Insurance commissioner Mattax dies in Austin

An American flag flies with the Texas state flag outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin. An American flag flies with the Texas state flag outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Photo: David Paul Morris Photo: David Paul Morris Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Insurance commissioner Mattax dies in Austin 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN -- Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax, a longtime state government attorney who once supervised the defense of all lawsuits against the state, died Thursday after losing a battle with cancer, officials said.

In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott called Mattax " a friend, colleague, and distinguished public servant. Commissioner David Mattax truly dedicated his life and career to the State of Texas."

Mattax had served as commissioner over the state agency that regulates insurance companies since January 2015, the same month that Abbott took office.

Before joining the insurance agency, Mattax spent 23 years in a variety of capacities at the Texas state Attorney General's Office -- where he worked for Abbott, who was attorney general from 2002 until he became governor in 2015.

In the attorney general's office, Mattax represented the Texas Department of Insurance as its attorney in 1992, and his tenure included working with eight different insurance commissioners on receiverships, rulemaking, enforcement actions and other legal issues.Mattax also represented the state banking and securities departments and other state agencies.

In his last position as Deputy Attorney General for Defense Litigation, Mattax supervised the defense of all lawsuits filed against the state.

Mattax is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

No additional details or information about services were immediately announced.