John Sharp (Texas politician)

John Sharp
Sharp on December 19, 2008.
14th Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System
Incumbent
Assumed office August 15, 2011
Preceded by	Michael D. McKinney
35th Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
In office January 20, 1991 – January 20, 1999
Governor	Ann Richards (1991–1995) George W. Bush (1995–1999)
Preceded by	Bob Bullock
Succeeded by	Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Member of the Texas Railroad Commission
In office 1987–1991
Governor	William Perry "Bill" Clements, Jr.
Preceded by	Clark Jobe
Succeeded by	Lena Guerrero
Member of the Texas Senate from the 18th District
In office November 20, 1982 – January 13, 1987
Preceded by	John T. Wilson
Succeeded by	Ken Armbrister
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 40th district
In office January 9, 1979 – November 20, 1982
Preceded by	Joe Wyatt, Jr.
Succeeded by	Alex Moreno
Personal details
Born	John Spencer Sharp July 28, 1950 Placedo, Victoria County Texas, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Charlotte Sharp (married since 1978)
Children	Spencer Sharp Victoria Sharp
Residence	Austin, Texas
Religion	Roman Catholic
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1972–1976
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

Spencer Sharp

John Spencer Sharp is a Democratic politician from Texas, who has served since 2011 as the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. From 1991 to 1999, he was the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. From 1979 to 1987, he was a member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature. From 1987 to 1991, he was one of the three members of the Texas Railroad Commission. In 1998 and 2002, he was the Democratic Party's nomination for lieutenant governor.

Sharp is also a principal in the Austin office of the Dallas-based Ryan & Company, a tax consulting firm. In 2005, he was appointed to serve as chairman of the Texas Tax Reform Commission. In December 2008, Sharp announced that he would run in 2012 for the United States Senate seat currently held by the retiring Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. However, Sharp never sought the position, having instead been named the Texas A&M System chancellor.

The son of an oil field worker and a school teacher, Sharp grew up in the small farming community of Placedo in Victoria County along the Texas Gulf Coast. In 1972, Sharp earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and was elected Student Body President. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves. He belongs to American Legion Post 76 in Austin.