Bill W. Clayton
| Bill Wayne "Billy" Clayton | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
|
In office 1975–1983 |
|
| Preceded by | Price Daniel Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Gibson D. "Gib" Lewis |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from Lamb County (districts vary) | |
|
In office 1963–1983 |
|
| Preceded by | Max Carriker in District 91 |
| Succeeded by | Bob Valles in District 74 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 11, 1928 Olney, Young County, Texas, USA |
| Died | January 6, 2007 (aged 78) Lubbock, Texas |
| Resting place | Springlake Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic Party-turned-Republican (1985) |
| Spouse(s) | Delma J. Dennis Clayton (married 1950-2007, his death) |
| Children |
Tommy and Brenda |
| Parents | William Thomas and Myrtle Chitwood Clayton |
| Residence | Springlake, Lamb County, Texas |
| Alma mater |
Springlake-Earth High School |
| Occupation | Farmer, businessman, lobbyist |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
Tommy and Brenda
Springlake-Earth High School
Texas A&M University
Bill Wayne Clayton, sometimes known as Billy Clayton (September 11, 1928 – January 6, 2007), was an American politician from West Texas who served as a state legislator for twenty years and was Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983, a tenure twice as long as that of any other presiding officer of the house elected before him. A Conservative Democrat from a rural area of the Texas South Plains, Clayton attained the speakership by successfully forging a broad-based House coalition. He was considered one of the most influential legislators - and, after he left the chamber, lobbyists - in modern Texas history.
Clayton was born on September 11, 1928, in Olney near Graham in Young County in North Texas to William Thomas Clayton and the former Myrtle Chitwood. He grew up in tiny Springlake in Lamb County. He graduated from the Springlake-Earth High School and then attended Texas A&M University in College Station, where he earned a degree in agricultural economics. After college graduation in 1950, he returned to Springlake to help manage the family farm. Eventually, Clayton expanded his agricultural operations and became involved in diversified business enterprises.
Clayton married Delma J. Dennis on March 11, 1950. Together they had two children, Tommy and Brenda. At the time of his death, Clayton had five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
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Wikipedia