J. Franklin Spears

Full Name: Jacob Franklin Spears
Date of birth: October 6, 1899
Date of death: May 29, 1946

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Counties in District
S	26	Jan 9, 1945 - May 29, 1946	49th ⁽¹⁾	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar	Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr
S	26	Jan 14, 1941 - Jan 9, 1945	47th 48th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar	Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr
S	26	Jan 12, 1937 - Jan 14, 1941	45th ⁽³⁾ 46th ⁽²⁾	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar	Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr
H	78-2	Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 12, 1937	44th	Democrat	San Antonio / Bexar	Bexar

(1) Walter Tynan, in special election 7/27/1946, succeeded J. Franklin Spears, died 5/29/1946. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) 46th Legislature - Roll Call of Senators, holdover Senators "who were Members of the Forty-fifth Legislature and whose terms of office continue for the duration of the Forty-sixth Legislature," 1/10/1939, pp. 1-2. Senate Journal.
(3) 45th Legislature - Oath of Office Administered to Senators-Elect, 1/12/1937, p. 2. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 26
Jan 9, 1945 - May 29, 1946
Legislatures: 49th ⁽¹⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: San Antonio / Bexar
Counties in district: Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr

Senate District 26
Jan 14, 1941 - Jan 9, 1945
Legislatures: 47th 48th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: San Antonio / Bexar
Counties in district: Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr

Senate District 26
Jan 12, 1937 - Jan 14, 1941
Legislatures: 45th ⁽³⁾ 46th ⁽²⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: San Antonio / Bexar
Counties in district: Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr

House District 78-2
Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 12, 1937
Legislatures: 44th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: San Antonio / Bexar
Counties in district: Bexar

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

50th Legislature, R.S., SR 18, 1/27/1947, p. 80. Resolutions - Memorial.

Biographical Sketches

Biographical sketch and portrait, Franklin Scott Spears, Associate Justice, Texas Supreme Court, 1979-1990. Relatives: J. Franklin Spears - father, Franklin Scott Spears - son. Justices of Texas, 1836-1986 (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2004.
Memorial, October 1946, p. 410. Texas Bar Journal.

Military Service Notes

World War II service, Lieutenant Colonel, "Legislature Faces Problem of Absences: Men in Armed Forces Can't Get Leave to Attend Sessions," 1/1/1943. Dallas Morning News.
United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel, 36th Division. Jacob Franklin Spears, born 10/6/1899, died 5/29/1946, burial in Mission Burial Park South, San Antonio, Bexar County. Includes photographs. Find a Grave.
World War I and World War II. Spears "also served his country in both World Wars. He served in World War II with great distinction, having received the rank of Lieutenant Colonel." 50th Legislature, R.S., SR 18, 1/27/1947, p. 80. Resolutions - Memorial.
Pictured in uniform in 47th and 48th Senate composite photo and listed as Lt. Col. J. Franklin Spears. State Preservation Board. State Preservation Board
United States Cavalry, World War I; United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel, World War II. "He entered the Army as a National Guard officer in 1940 and was separated in 1944 as a Lieutenant Colonel. At 17 he had enlisted in the U.S. Cavalry, serving during World War I." Memorial, October 1946, p. 410. Texas Bar Journal.
United States Cavalry, 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

Mentioned in preview of 44th Legislature and discussion of legislative turnover, "Texas House Gets 80 New Members," 10/15/1934, p. 14. San Antonio Express.

Photographs

Photograph. J. Franklin Spears, 49th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Lt. Col. J. Franklin Spears, 48th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. J. Franklin Spears, 47th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. J. Franklin Spears, 46th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. J. Franklin Spears, 45th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. J. Franklin Spears, 44th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

45th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
46th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
47th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
48th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
49th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
44th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, east wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

49th R.S. - 1945 Commerce and Manufacturing Criminal Jurisprudence Finance Labor Military Affairs (Vice Chair) Public Debts, Claims and Accounts (Chair) Representative Districts Senatorial Districts (Vice Chair) State Affairs Veterans' Affairs
48th R.S. - 1943 Commerce and Manufacturing Constitutional Amendments Counties and County Boundaries (Chair) Federal Relations Finance Game and Fish (Vice Chair) Military Affairs Privileges and Elections Public Debts, Claims and Accounts (Vice Chair) Public Printing Rules State Penitentiaries
47th R.S. - 1941 Commerce and Manufactures (Vice Chair) Counties and County Boundaries Criminal Jurisprudence Education Finance Labor (Chair) Military Affairs (Vice Chair) Penitentiaries Privileges and Elections Public Printing Towns and City Corporations
46th R.S. - 1939 Commerce and Manufacturing Congressional Districts Counties and County Boundaries Criminal Jurisprudence (Chair) Education Enrolled Bills Finance Labor (Chair) Military Affairs (Vice Chair) Penitentiaries Public Printing Towns and City Corporations
45th R.S. - 1937 Civil Jurisprudence Compact with Oklahoma Relative to Use of Red River by Texas Citizens, Special Constitutional Amendments (Vice Chair) Counties and County Boundaries (Chair) Criminal Jurisprudence Engrossed Bills Labor (Vice Chair) Public Printing Representative Districts State Affairs State Highways and Motor Traffic
44th R.S. - 1935 Constitutional Amendments Criminal Jurisprudence (Vice Chair) Liquor Traffic Public Health State Affairs Texas Independence Day, Special

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