Dolph Briscoe Jr: Texas Governor 1973-1979

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Dolph Briscoe Jr. , Texas Governor from 1973 until 1979, lifetime resident of Uvalde, Texas. The Briscoe family settled in Fort Bend County in 1832, Dolph’s Grandfather Andrew Briscoe signed the Texas Declaration of Independence as well as leading a company of soldiers in the Battle of San Jacinto. He then became the first elected judge of Harris County, Sam Houston appointed him this position. Dolph’s father, Dolph Briscoe Sr., was appointed chairman of the Texas Racing commission from 1930 until 1933. Dolph Sr. was also a very close associate of Ross Sterling who was a Texas Governor and Humble Oil Company Founder. Dolph Jr. was born April 23, 1923, after becoming the valedictorian of Uvalde High School he attended the University of Texas, graduated from there with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. While at the University of Texas Dolph Jr. met Janey Slaughter and ended up marrying her in 1942. Briscoe then enlisted into the army as a private and advanced to officer rank after servicing in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II.
Briscoe first went into politics after his return from the service, in 1948 he ran for State Representative which he won his first election and from 1949 to 1957 he served as a Representative. He was the best known author of the Colson-Briscoe farm-to-market road system, along with holding key chairmanships with the agriculture and highway committees. With the passing of Dolph Sr. in 1954, Dolph Jr. elected not to run for his fifth term as a State Representative and instead return to the ranching industry. This lead to Dolph Jr. becoming the number one landowner in the state by 1972, and in 1960 he helped Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association raise three million dollars alon...

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...be opened up I feel as if Briscoe really did restore faith in politics to the citizens of the state of Texas. Both of these policies are still challenged and seen to be upheld today in our society, I feel that is the true definition of a great policy or policies. A policy must stand its ground and stand its ground over time in order for it to be seen as a great bill and I believe both of these do just that. Having said that I believe both of these bills are two of the most substantial in their own fields that they apply. Therefore, one can say Briscoe is responsible for two of Texas’s best policies, since he was governor when they were implemented.

Works Cited

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/governors/modern/page2.html,3/31/2014 https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/AG_Publications/pdfs/openmeeting_hb.pdf http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/docs/Rangra%20Final%20Order.PDF,2

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