What does it take to change our world? One answer is more people like Tom Luce.

Many Texans may never have heard of Tom. Yet millions have benefited from his life’s work, and his profound legacy reaches every corner of our state.

Since his passing on July 25, tributes have come from former presidents, business leaders, educators and civic leaders across Texas. Those of us fortunate enough to have known Tom have lost a trusted friend, wise counselor and steadfast champion for Texas.

A successful attorney and trusted adviser to Ross Perot Sr. and other business leaders, Tom could have devoted his career entirely to private practice. Instead, he repeatedly chose public service, taking on challenges that affected generations of Texans.

In the 1980s, he helped craft a historic overhaul of Texas public education, introducing reforms that were revolutionary for their time, including strict class-size limits, teacher testing and “No Pass, No Play.”

Tom went on to found and build organizations that transformed math and science education, expanded access to mental health care and strengthened civic leadership. He also created the nonpartisan policy organization Texas 2036.

What is remarkable is not simply the number of organizations Tom helped build. It is the way he approached every challenge. He was never satisfied with short-term fixes for long-term problems. He wanted to create solutions that would continue serving Texans long after he was gone.

Tom observed that leaders must balance what he called “the tyranny of the urgent” with the discipline to “look around the corner.” That was more than a memorable phrase. It was the principle that guided his life’s work.

Whether the issue was education, mental health, workforce development or economic competitiveness, Tom challenged Texas to think beyond the immediate crisis and build the foundation for a better future.

Those convictions led him to found Texas 2036 nearly a decade ago. He recognized that the success of our cities, towns and rural communities depends on decisions made at the state level as well as locally.

With our state’s bicentennial on the horizon, Tom envisioned an organization that would help leaders in every region succeed by offering facts and research. He believed Texas could tackle its biggest challenges if leaders were willing to begin with evidence, listen to one another and focus on what would serve the state over the long term.

Working alongside Tom over the past two years, I came to appreciate something his résumé could never fully capture. His attention was always on the next challenge, the next opportunity for Texas or the next leader who should be encouraged to step forward. He measured success not by personal recognition, but by whether the work would continue after he stepped away.

Every generation inherits a Texas it did not build. The question is whether it leaves behind a stronger one for those who follow.

As Texas approaches its 200th birthday in 2036, the greatest tribute we can offer Tom is not simply remembering what he accomplished. It is continuing the work he began: looking ahead, making investments that will benefit Texans for decades and building a state that offers greater opportunity to those who come after us.

That work belongs to all of us.

David W. Leebron is president and CEO of Texas 2036 and previously served as president of Rice University.