Retired four-star Gen. Tommy Franks is lending his name and support to Senate candidate Michael Williams, a state railroad commissioner.

Williams is running in a crowded GOP primary to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R).

Franks, who graduated from Midland High School a year ahead of former first lady Laura Bush, led U.S. forces into Afghanistan and Iraq.

“As a retired military man, I don’t often get involved in political campaigns. But I decided that there’s a race going on in Texas that’s so important, that I just couldn’t stand on the sidelines,” Franks said in a statement. “Michael Williams, my friend, is running to be the next senator from the great state of Texas. He provides the kind of leadership that I think we need in Washington to get America back on the right track.”