State's Alamo director to step down in December

AUSTIN (AP) - The state director of the Alamo is resigning just a year after the Texas General Land Office took control of the iconic landmark.

Agency spokesman Jim Suydam said Friday he could not comment on why Steve Oswald was stepping down because it was a personnel matter. Oswald's last day will be Dec. 3.

His brief tenure included the Alamo's gift shop being handed over to a private company for the first time. It was previously run by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Alamo's longtime caretakers whose stewardship began falling under heavy scrutiny two years ago.

Allegations of mismanagement and financial incompetence led lawmakers to put the Alamo under the General Land Office. The Daughters remain the primary caretakers but now answer to stricter state oversight.