Searcy Bracewell

Full Name: Joseph Searcy Bracewell, Jr.
Date of birth: January 19, 1918
Date of death: May 13, 2003

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	6	Jan 11, 1955 - Jan 13, 1959	55th ⁽¹⁾ 54th 55th ⁽¹⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris	Senate President Pro Tempore (55th)	Harris
S	6	Jan 13, 1953 - Jan 11, 1955	53rd ⁽²⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	16	Jan 9, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953	52nd ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
S	16	Jan 11, 1949 - Jan 9, 1951	51st ⁽⁴⁾	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris
H	19-3	Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 11, 1949	50th	Democrat	Houston / Harris		Harris

(1) 55th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 1st C.S., elected 10/14/1957; and Ad Interim 1st C.S., elected 11/12/1957. Senate Journal.
(2) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(3) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1952 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(4) In Senate, Maribelle (Mrs. W. Lacy) Stewart, in special election 4/19/1947, sworn 4/23/1947, succeeded to unexpired term of W. Lacy Stewart, died 3/22/1947. She resigned 12/3/1948, and was succeeded for unexpired term in special election 1/9/1949, by J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr., sworn 1/11/1949. In House, Carlton Moore, Sr., in special election 1/8/1949, sworn 1/11/1949, succeeded J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr., resigned 12/9/1948. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 6
Jan 11, 1955 - Jan 13, 1959
Legislatures: 55th ⁽¹⁾ 54th 55th ⁽¹⁾
Senate President Pro Tempore (55th)
(55th)
(55th)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

Senate District 6
Jan 13, 1953 - Jan 11, 1955
Legislatures: 53rd ⁽²⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

Senate District 16
Jan 9, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953
Legislatures: 52nd ⁽³⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

Senate District 16
Jan 11, 1949 - Jan 9, 1951
Legislatures: 51st ⁽⁴⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

House District 19-3
Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 11, 1949
Legislatures: 50th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

53rd Legislature, R.S., SR 30. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
54th Legislature, R.S., SR 15. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.

Biographical Sketches

Memorial biographical sketch and photo. A State of Remembrance, 2005.
Memorial, July 2003, p. 624. Texas Bar Journal.

Military Service Notes

United States Army, Major, World War II. "As a former Texas A&M Cadet, Searcy Bracewell was called to active duty as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1941. After an initial assignment as a cavalry officer at Fort Clark, he shipped out to England in 1943 to join the forces gathering for the invasion of Europe. He was assigned to a position as Assistant G-4 on the staff of Gen. George Patton's Third Army, where he served until the end of the war. He was awarded the European Theater Medal with five battle stars and was honorably discharged as a major in 1945." Memorials, Searcy Bracewell, Jr.
"From 1941-45 he served in the U.S. Army, with two and a half years spent overseas during World War II. He served in World War II as a member of Gen. George Patton's staff in charge of supplies and evacuation." "Searcy Bracewell, Founding Partner of Bracewell & Patterson, Dies 5/15/03." Joseph Marion Bracewell Genealogy and Family History.
United States Army, Major. "During World War II he served on the staff of General George Patton's Third Army; he left the service with the rank of major in 1945." A State of Remembrance, 2005.
United States Army. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

Other Resources

Memorials - Joseph Searcy Bracewell, Jr. - Obituary; Bracewell & Patterson law firm, "Searcy Bracewell, Founding Partner of Bracewell & Patterson, Dies," 5/15/2003. Joseph Marion Bracewell Genealogy and Family History.

Photographs

Photograph. Searcy Bracewell, 55th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Searcy Bracewell, 54th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Searcy Bracewell, 53rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Searcy Bracewell, 52nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Searcy Bracewell, 51st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Searcy Bracewell Jr., 50th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

51st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
52nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
53rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
54th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
55th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
50th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

55th R.S. - 1957 Aged Citizens Archives, Texas Employment Commission, and Insurance Buildings Banking Constitutional Amendments Counties, Cities and Towns Insurance (Chair) Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts Nominations Oil and Gas State Affairs Utilize Available Space in Capitol Building Water and Conservation
54th R.S. - 1955 Banking Civil Jurisprudence Commerce and Manufacturing Congressional Districts (Chair) Constitutional Amendments General Investigating (Chair) Insurance Nominations of the Governor Oil, Gas and Conservation Privileges and Elections Rules (Vice Chair) Segregation in Public Schools, Advisory State Affairs (Vice Chair)
53rd R.S. - 1953 Banking Civil Jurisprudence Committee of the Whole Senate Congressional Districts Constitutional Amendments Criminal Jurisprudence Game and Fish Insurance Nominations of the Governor (Chair) Oil, Gas and Conservation Poet Laureate Selection, Special Privileges and Elections Public Health Rules (Chair) State Affairs State Highways and Motor Traffic State Penitentiaries Texas Commission on Higher Education Towns and City Corporations Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage
52nd R.S. - 1951 Aeronautics Banking Civil Jurisprudence Congressional Districts Constitutional Amendments Corporation Laws Revision, Special Criminal Jurisprudence (Chair) Insurance Internal Improvements Labor Military and Veterans' Affairs Oil, Gas and Conservation (Vice Chair) Privileges and Elections State Affairs State Penitentiaries Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage
51st R.S. - 1949 Aeronautics Criminal Jurisprudence Engrossed Bills (Chair) Enrolled Bills (Chair) Finance General Investigating General Investigating, Special Interstate Cooperation Labor Military Affairs Oil, Gas and Conservation Penitentiaries Veterans' Affairs Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage
50th R.S. - 1947 Constitutional Amendments Counties Judiciary Motor Traffic Revenue and Taxation Student Activities at A&M College, Investigation, Special

This website is a work in progress. Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

Party information is not available for the 1st-11th Legislatures.

Have a question, comment or contribution? Email the Library or call 512-463-1252.

Many photos in Texas Legislators: Past and Present are used with permission of the Texas State Preservation Board. For permission to reproduce these photos, please contact the Texas State Preservation Board graphics coordinator at 512-475-3060.