Rick Perry

President-elect Donald Trumps selects former Texas Governor Rick Perry to fill the position of Energy Secretary in his cabinet. Perry, who was in the Republican pool of candidates for president often criticized Trump but later endorsed him saying he'd be willing to work in a Trump administration.

The 47th Governor of Texas, Perry served the state from December 2000 to January 2015. He was elected in 1998 to the Lieutenant Governor's office but took over as Governor when then-governor George Bush resigned to become president. He's the longest serving governor in Texas history. 

He's a fifth generation Texan, born March 4, 1950 in Haskell, Texas and raised in Paint Creek. His father was a democrat and lont-time Haskell County commissioner and school board member. 

Perry attended Texas A&M University. He was in the Corps of Cadets and studied Animal Science. He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After that he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. 

He married Mary Anita Thigpen in 1982. She was his childhood sweetheart and they had known each other since elementary school. They have two grown children, Griffin and Sydney. 

Perry grew up in the United Methodist Church but later began attending Lake Hills Church in 2010 with his family.