George William Strake, Jr. (born June 10, 1935), is a Houston, Texas, businessman and philanthropist who served as Texas secretary of state from January 16, 1979–October 6, 1981, during the administration of Republican Governor William Perry Clements, Jr. He left the secretary of state’s position to begin fund raising for his 1982 race as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Strake was defeated by the then 10-year incumbent, Democrat Bill Hobby, also a Houston businessman.