Tribpedia: Gibson "Gib" Lewis

Tribpedia

Gibson "Gib" Lewis, born August 22, 1936, was Speaker of the Texas House from 1983-1993 and served in the House from 1971-83. He was the first five-term speaker in Texas history.

The Fort Worth Democrat became a lobbyist after leaving office.

Lewis was the Yogi Berra of modern Texas politics, famous for malapropisms — journalists labeled them "Gibberish" — that sometimes contained ...

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Rick Perry: The Democrat Years

State Rep. Rick Perry with House Speaker Gib Lewis (D-Fort Worth) during the 69th Legislative session, on September 2, 1986.
Enlarge photo by: Texas State Library and Archives Commission
State Rep. Rick Perry with House Speaker Gib Lewis (D-Fort Worth) during the 69th Legislative session, on September 2, 1986.

Gov. Rick Perry, a no-apologies conservative known for slashing government spending and opposing all tax increases, is about as Republican as you can get. Except when he wasn't. Perry spent his first six years in politics as a Democrat, a period sure to be scrutinized by GOP opponents if he decides to run for president.

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Bill Hobby on the 1984 Education Reform Battle

  • by Bill Hobby with Saralee Tiede
  • 4 Comments

As chairman of the Select Committee of Public Education in the '80s, Ross Perot took on high school athletics hammer and tongs: “If the people of Texas want Friday night entertainment instead of education," he said, "let’s find out about it." An excerpt from the forthcoming How Things Really Work: Lessons from a Life in Politics.