Former Texas Gov. Bill Clements Dies
Former Texas Gov. William "Bill" Clements Jr., who broke the Democratic Party's century-long hold on the Governor's Mansion with his election 33 years ago, died Sunday. He was 94, had suffered a stroke and had been ill for some time.
A brusque and colorful Dallas oilman, Clements shocked the political establishment by beating Democrat John Hill Jr. in the 1978 gubernatorial election. Hill, then the attorney general, had unseated Gov. Dolph Briscoe in the Democratic primary, and Capitol power players — as overwhelmingly Democratic then as they are Republican now — assumed the race was over.
Clements, spending freely from ...
Comments (5)
Linda Jann Lewis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I had the privledge of working on Governor Clements' Budget and Planning Staff.. back in the day.
Phillip Sanders via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He was a true Conservative, unafraid to do what was right for the citizens of Texas.
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Really odd. i was doing some house cleaning just last night and came across some old literature from his campaign which I worked in as a local rank and file guy. Also a copy of the first Reagan speech I heard delivered 'A time for Choosing' May 3rd, 1963.
Tim Hurst via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He was a mean old bitter man. A shell. Ruined SMU and made his good old boys rich to the detrement of the state.
Clay H. Courtney via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If by "True Conservative" you mean getting lots of public money to make himself richer, then yeah. Totally true.