Kate huddleston tom craddick biography

When Tom Craddick () of Midland was elected Speaker of the Texas House on January 14, , he became the first Republican to lead the House in years.

In , then just 25 and a Ph.D.

Texas House of Representatives : Craddick, Tom Member News ...

candidate at Texas Tech University, Craddick decided to test the political waters and run for a legislative seat from Midland � against the advice of his father, R.F. Craddick, a Midland businessman and Democratic precinct chairman.

"Texas is run by Democrats, son; you can't win," warned the elder Craddick. But he did win, and when the freshman lawmaker took office in January , he was one of only eight Republicans in the member Texas House.

He served in the House as a leader of the minority party until the election when Republicans won 88 seats � a majority � in the Texas House. Craddick announced in short order on Nov. 7, that he had the votes to be elected Speaker.

In , then-House Speaker Billy Clayton made Craddick the first Republican committee chair in more than a c Biography of Tom Craddick BOWY