Legislative Reference Library

Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Doyle Willis

Doyle Willis
Full Name: Doyle Henry Willis, Sr.
Birth date: August 18, 1907
Death date: June 22, 2006

Terms of Service

  • House, 74th Legislature
    1/10/1995 - 1/14/1997
    Democrat
  • House, 73rd Legislature
    1/12/1993 - 1/10/1995
    Democrat
  • House, 72nd Legislature
    1/8/1991 - 1/12/1993
    Democrat
  • House, 71st Legislature
    1/10/1989 - 1/8/1991
    Democrat
  • House, 70th Legislature
    1/13/1987 - 1/10/1989
    Democrat
  • House, 69th Legislature
    1/8/1985 - 1/13/1987
    Democrat
  • House, 68th Legislature
    1/11/1983 - 1/8/1985
    Democrat
  • House, 67th Legislature
    1/13/1981 - 1/11/1983
    Democrat
  • House, 66th Legislature
    1/9/1979 - 1/13/1981
    Democrat
  • House, 65th Legislature
    1/11/1977 - 1/9/1979
    Democrat
  • House, 64th Legislature
    1/14/1975 - 1/11/1977
    Democrat
  • House, 63rd Legislature
    1/9/1973 - 1/14/1975
    Democrat
  • House, 61st Legislature
    1/14/1969 - 1/12/1971
    Democrat
  • Senate, 57th (2) Legislature
    1/10/1961 - 1/8/1963
    Democrat
    Senate President Pro Tempore, 2nd C.S., elected 8/11/1961.
  • Senate, 56th & 55th Legislatures
    1/8/1957 - 1/10/1961
    Democrat
  • Senate, 54th & 53rd (1) Legislatures
    1/13/1953 - 1/8/1957
    Democrat
  • House, 52nd Legislature
    1/9/1951 - 1/13/1953
    Democrat
  • House, 51st Legislature
    1/11/1949 - 1/9/1951
    Democrat
  • House, 50th Legislature
    1/14/1947 - 1/11/1949
    Democrat
(1) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal .
(2) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1962 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, ยง3, Election and term of office of Senators .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Selected Newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

  • Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1995.
  • Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1975.
  • Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1973.

Photographs

Other Resources

  • Memorial biographical sketch and photo, birth date 8/18/1907. A State of Remembrance 2007.
  • United States Army Air Corps. "During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps, earning the Bronze Star and four battle stars." A State of Remembrance 2007.
  • Doyle Henry Willis, birth date 8/18/1907, death date 6/22/2006, obituary, photos, burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant County. Find a Grave .
  • Obituary, funeral articles, photos, and guestbook, Doyle Henry Willis:
    "Feisty 'Dean' of Texas Politics, WWII Veteran," 6/23/2006, p. 7B.
    Obituary, Doyle Henry Willis, 6/24/2006, p. 11B. "[Doyle] Willis served with his brother, Phillip . . . They were the first brothers to serve together in the Texas House of Representatives." Doyle Willis was "known as the dean of the Texas Legislature."
    "At Our Service," Editorial, 6/24/2006, p. 12B.
    "The Insider: Colleagues Honor Political Icon," 6/25/2006, p. 4B.
    "Big Farewell: Late Lawmaker Doyle Willis Honored as Champion of the Underdog, 6/27/2006, pp. 1B, 6B. "In all, he served 42 years, the second-longest tenure in Texas history."
    "Working-class Texans Honor Grit and Tenacity of Loyal Old Friend," 6/27/2006, pp. 1B, 6B. Fort Worth Star-Telegram .
  • United States Army Air Corps, World War II, description of service. Obituary, Doyle Henry Willis. Fort Worth Star-Telegram .
  • Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974 1975.
  • Mentioned in Curtis Bishop, "Historic Names in the 54th: Descendants of many who made early Texas history carry on family traditions of service to their State as members of the 54th Legislature," Volume XVI, Number 1, June 1955, pp. 37, 38, 40. Texas Parade .
  • United States Army Air Corps. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country 2017.

Committee Information

LRL Home | View full site