Marcus Hiles

Hiles, chairman and chief executive at Western Rim and Mansions Custom Homes, is a residential real estate developer. He and his wife have been major Republican donors in state and federal campaigns. He had given Abbott $525,000 in the past 14 months for his run for governor. Hiles was Abbott’s third-largest contributor and was among the 40 individuals and couples that Abbott named to the prestigious 2015 Texas Inaugural Committee, which oversaw the swearing-in ceremonies and celebrations for Abbott and Patrick last month. Hiles also gave $150,000 to Patrick in the past five months and had been named last month to the lieutenant governor’s advisory board. Abbott donated the money he had received from Hiles to 10 women’s shelters and family crisis centers around the state. Patrick said that his staff was researching which organizations to donate the money to but that it would be sent in the next few days.