Dan Gattis, Friendswood High School Class of 1986, applied what he learned in FISD to a future of leadership through the state of Texas. Gattis is one of four to be awarded the title of 2023 Distinguished Alumni by the Friendswood High School Alumni Association.
At a special banquet showcasing the group, Gattis will be recognized for his many accomplishments since high school.
He graduated from Texas A&M in 1990 with B.S. in Agricultural Economics. While there he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Ross Volunteer Company and served as President of the Class of 1990.
He received his J.D. degree at South Texas College of Law in 1993. He served as the Assistant County Attorney and the Assistant District Attorney of Williamson County before opening his own practice, the Gattis Law Firm in 2003.
From 2003-2011 he also served as State Representative in the Texas House of Representatives. As representative, he worked on several committees including the House Appropriations Committee and the Budget Conference Committee, where he was the writer for the main health and welfare budget.
He was Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Chair for budget and oversight to the House Natural Resources Committee, and a member of the Joint Committee on State Water Funding and Select Environmental Flows Advisory Group. He also served on the House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, attending hearings with officials and taxpayers throughout the state.
Gattis has been recognized with many awards including the 10 Best Legislators by Texas Monthly Magazine in 2005; Fighter for Free Enterprise by Texas Association of Business; Legislative Excellence Award by Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in 2023; Million Dollar Advocates Forum 2017 to the present and National Trial Lawyers Top 100 2020 to the present.
Currently, he is the owner of the Gattis Law Firm in Georgetown where he represents landowners in condemnation and imminent domain matters. He also manages his family ranch in Jonah and has a ranching business raising Red Angus and Beefmaster cattle as well as registered quarter horses. His involvement in the agriculture industry includes executive committee work for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Federation of State Beef Councils. He is on the board of directors of the Texas Beef Council and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Gattis and his wife Shana have three children, Sterling Jack, Carson Marie and Kenedy Sue.
The other three alumni being honored at the Distinguished Alumni Banquet at Golf Crest Country Club in Pearland October 5 include Cheryl Bouillion, William Gillespie and Tony Hopkins.
The event is under the direction of the Friendswood High School Alumni Association. To become a sponsor, or to purchase a table or single tickets, visit friendswoodalumni.org.
