W.E. 'Pete' Snelson

Full Name: Wallace Eugene "Pete" Snelson
Date of birth: March 28, 1923
Date of death: April 26, 2014

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	25	Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 11, 1983	67th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ 66th 67th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	Democrat	Midland / Midland	Dean of the Senate. (67th)	Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Comal, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler
S	25	Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 9, 1979	64th 65th	Democrat	Midland / Midland		Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Comal, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler
S	25	Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975	63rd ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Midland / Midland		Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Comal, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler
S	25	Jan 14, 1969 - Jan 9, 1973	62nd ⁽⁴⁾ 61st 62nd ⁽⁴⁾	Democrat	Midland / Midland	Senate President Pro Tempore (62nd)	Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Edwards, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde
S	29	Jan 12, 1965 - Jan 10, 1967	59th ⁽⁵⁾	Democrat	Midland / Midland		Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Hudspeth, Loving, Midland, Reeves, Ward, Winkler
H	102	Jan 10, 1961 - Jan 8, 1963	57th	Democrat	Midland / Midland		Crane, Midland, Pecos, Upton

(1) 67th Legislature - Presentation of Deans of Senate, 1/13/1981, p. 8. [The Senate] selected 3 Members to serve as Deans of the Senate. Senator Brooks will serve the first 4 mos; Senator Mauzy the second 4 mos and Senator Snelson the last 4 mos of the year. Senate Journal.
(2) Senators Brooks, Mauzy, and Snelson shared the title of dean. See the Senate Journal, 67th Legislature, Vol. I, p. 8. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(3) 63rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/10/1973, pp. 12-13. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(4) 62nd Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim R.S., elected 5/31/1971; 1st C.S., elected 6/1/1971; and Ad Interim 1st C.S., elected 6/4/1971. Senate Journal.
(5) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1966 due to redistricting. Reapportionment of Senate districts occurred in the 59th Legislature, Regular Session (1965), ch. 324 (SB 547). Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 25
Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 11, 1983
Legislatures: 67th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ 66th 67th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾
Dean of the Senate. (62nd)
(62nd)
(62nd)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Midland / Midland
Counties in district: Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Comal, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler

Senate District 25
Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 9, 1979
Legislatures: 64th 65th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Midland / Midland
Counties in district: Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Comal, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler

Senate District 25
Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975
Legislatures: 63rd ⁽³⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Midland / Midland
Counties in district: Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Comal, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Gillespie, Glasscock, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler

Senate District 25
Jan 14, 1969 - Jan 9, 1973
Legislatures: 62nd ⁽⁴⁾ 61st 62nd ⁽⁴⁾
Senate President Pro Tempore (62nd)
(62nd)
(62nd)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Midland / Midland
Counties in district: Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Edwards, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde

Senate District 29
Jan 12, 1965 - Jan 10, 1967
Legislatures: 59th ⁽⁵⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Midland / Midland
Counties in district: Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Hudspeth, Loving, Midland, Reeves, Ward, Winkler

House District 102
Jan 10, 1961 - Jan 8, 1963
Legislatures: 57th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Midland / Midland
Counties in district: Crane, Midland, Pecos, Upton

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

59th Legislature, R.S., SR 358. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
62nd Legislature, R.S., SR 806. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
63rd Legislature, R.S., SR 399. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
64th Legislature, R.S., SR 353. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
66th Legislature, R.S., SR 354. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
67th Legislature, R.S., SR 415. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
71st Legislature, 3rd C.S., SR 77. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
83rd Legislature, R.S., SR 612. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.

Biographical Sketches

Biographical sketch and photo. Senate Biographies, 63rd Legislature, 1973.
Biographical sketch and photo. The Senators of Texas, 64th Session, 1975.
Memorial biographical sketch and photo. A State of Remembrance, 2015.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 66th Legislature, 1979.
Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 67th Legislature, 1981.
Snelson, Wallace Eugene. Texas State Cemetery.

Military Service Notes

Biographical sketch, military photos, and military service. WALLACE E. (PETE) SNELSON; Patriot, Chapter 1919; Texas State Senator, Retired; Army, WWII, Europe. Includes news articles, "Fifth Snelson Brother Joins Armed Forces," and "Pete Snelson Selected to the Men of Mines." Military Order of the Purple Heart, Texas Capital Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas.
United States Army, Technical Sergeant, World War II; United States Army Reserve, Lieutenant. "In 1943, Pete was called to active duty by the US Army. After basic training, Pete was sent by the Army Specialized Training Program to the University of Nebraska to study German language, history, and culture. Pete joined the 44th Infantry Division, Company B of the 324th Infantry Regiment which was deployed to Cherbourg, France. On November 13, 1944, Pete's Company attacked the German line in the Vosges Mountains where he was wounded. After three months of recuperation, he was interviewed and selected for service as a Special Agent in the 307th Counter Intelligence Corp detachment at 7th Army Headquarters. Prior to Pete's discharge from the US Army as a Technical Sargent, he received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He remained in the US Army Reserve and was commissioned as a Lieutenant and served as a commander of the Counter Intelligence Corps unit at Fort Bliss, Texas." Texas State Cemetery.
United States Army, United States Army Reserve. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

Other Resources

Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975.
Notice of death, 4/29/2014. Speaker of the House.

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

Named one of 'The Best'. Best and Worst Legislators 1981.
Named 'Honorable Mention'. Best and Worst Legislators 1979.

Photographs

Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 62nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 61st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 59th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, 57th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

59th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
61st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
62nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
63rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
64th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
65th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
66th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
67th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
57th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

67th R.S. - 1981 Autism Congressional and Legislative Redistricting, Oversight Education (Chair) Finance Intergovernmental Relations New Federalism, Task Force Public Education, Select Redistricting, Subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole Senate, Special Redistricting, Subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole Senate, Special Legislative Panel (Chair)
66th R.S. - 1979 Early Childhood Intervention Services, Interim (Chair) Education Finance Intergovernmental Relations (Chair) Poet Laureate Selection, Special
65th R.S. - 1977 Border Trade and Tourism, Special Delivery of Human Services in Texas Delivery of Human Services in Texas Subcommittee on Service Distribution Patterns Delivery of Human Services in Texas Subcommittee on Services for 65 and Over Age Group Education Finance Finance Interim Subcommittee on Juvenile Crime Intergovernmental Relations (Chair) Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee on Housing Poet Laureate Selection, Special Public School Finance, Legislative Commission Special Education, Interim (Chair)
64th R.S. - 1975 Border Trade and Tourism, Special Education Finance Intergovernmental Relations (Chair)
63rd R.S. - 1973 Education (Vice Chair) Finance Intergovernmental Relations
62nd R.S. - 1971 Administration Agriculture and Drought Disaster Relief, Special Agriculture and Livestock Constitutional Amendments Education (Vice Chair) Environment Finance General Investigating, Special Intergovernmental Relations (Chair) Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts Local and Uncontested Bills, Special Medical Costs, Interim Nominations Oil and Gas (Chair) Parks and Recreation Population Distribution, Interim Privacy Public Junior Colleges, Interim Public School Finance, Interim State Affairs Teacher Retirement Benefits, Interim Transportation Urban Education Vegetable Marketing, Interim Water and Conservation
61st R.S. - 1969 Agriculture and Livestock Attraction of New Industry Commerce and Industry (Chair) Education Faculty Compensation Finance Legislative, Congressional, and Judicial Districts Livestock Marking and Branding Natural Fibers and Textile Development (Vice Chair) Oil and Gas (Vice Chair) Parks and Wildlife Penal Servitude and Parole Public Health State and Local School Disricts Financial Relationship (Committee of Eighteen) Transportation Water and Conservation
59th R.S. - 1965 Agriculture and Livestock Counties, Cities and Towns (Vice Chair) Faculty Compensation in State-Supported Colleges and Universities Finance Insurance Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts Military and Veterans Affairs Oil and Gas Water and Conservation
57th R.S. - 1961 Education Education and Teacher Certification Military and Veterans Affairs Public Lands and Buildings Public Printing State Hospitals and Special Schools

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