John Whitmire
| John Whitmire | |
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| Member of the Texas Senate from the 15th district |
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Assumed office January 11, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Jack C. Ogg |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 82nd district |
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In office January 9, 1973 – January 11, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Heatley |
| Succeeded by | Nolan J. Robnett |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Harris Whitmire August 13, 1949 Hillsboro, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Lynn Dalby (1976-Divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
University of Houston Bates College of Law |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | Baptist |
John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949) is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving of current members of the Texas State Senate representing District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, since 1983. His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. He also served as the Acting Governor of Texas in 1993 as part of the Governor for A Day tradition.
Whitmire was born in Hillsboro, Texas to James M. Whitmire, the Hill County Clerk and Marie Harris Whitmire, a nurse. He came from humble beginnings and moved more that three times as a child; but his fondest memories were of his early childhood in Whitney, Texas where he had no running water but had the strong support of his neighbors. He cherishes this time in his life so much, you can still find his blue corduroy Future Farmers of America jacket, with “Whitney” largely embroidered on it hanging behind his desk in the Capitol. In his early teenage years, he moved to North Houston and attended Waltrip High School. Whitmire attended college at the University of Houston to study political science while paying for his education by working for the Texas State Welfare Department to which he credits his understanding of ordinary people facing difficult times.
Under pressure from the Federal Courts, the 1971 legislature drew up Texas' first single-member district plan for the House of Representatives. Whitmire's political science professor Richard Murray was the one to inspire him to run for office as he illustrated the newly drawn district lines that newly encompassed John's home, church, old high school and the hospital where his mother worked. Having only voted once in his life, John Whitmire suspended his studies and left his job to enter the race.
In the 1972 election for House District 82, Whitmire won the primary runoff election and easily won the general election. In 1973, John Whitmire at twenty-three, was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives. Whitmire served in the Texas House with colleagues Gene Green, Craig Washington and Mickey Leland and eventually finished his undergraduate degree. He began his law studies at the Bates College of Law, then passed the bar in 1981.
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Wikipedia