Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	6	Jan 14, 1947 - Aug 15, 1949	50th   51st (1) (2)	Democrat	Kerens / Navarro		Anderson, Freestone, Henderson, Kaufman, Navarro
S	6	Nov 7, 1944 - Jan 14, 1947	48th (3)   49th	Democrat	Kerens / Navarro		Anderson, Freestone, Henderson, Kaufman, Navarro
H	58	Jan 14, 1941 - Jan 12, 1943	47th	Democrat	Kerens / Navarro		Navarro
H	58	Jan 10, 1939 - Jan 14, 1941	46th	Democrat	Kerens / Navarro		Navarro

(1) In Senate, George O. Nokes, Jr., in special election 11/6/1949, sworn 1/31/1950, succeeded James E. Taylor, resigned 8/31/1949. In House, James C. Sewell, in special election 11/8/1949, sworn 1/31/1950, succeeded George O. Nokes, Jr., resigned 8/27/1949. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) Taylor resigned 8/15/1949. Texas Legislative Manual.
(3) James E. Taylor, in special election 11/7/1944, succeeded Clay Cotten, died 8/16/1944. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Selected Newspaper articles

Biographical Sketches

• Biographical sketch, Brigadier General James E. Taylor. Legislative Reference Library.
• Taylor, James Edward. Texas State Cemetery.

Military Service Notes

• United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel, World War II. "Two former Texas National Guardsmen who were members of the Texas House of Representatives have risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in overseas activities with the American forces. James Taylor of Kerens and John M. Mohrmann of Gonzales both wear silver leaves to designate their present rank." "Officials Get High Ranks," 8/31/1944, p. 4. Lubbock Morning Avalanche.
• Pictured in uniform in the 49th Senate composite photo and listed as Lt. Col. James E. Taylor. Pictured in uniform in the 47th House composite photo. State Preservation Board. State Preservation Board
• United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel, Major General. Texas National Guard. Biographical sketch includes full description of World War II and Texas National Guard service, including awards of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the French Croix de Guerre. Inscription on back of headstone: Major General, United States Army. Commanding General, Texas 36th Division Field Artillery. Awarded Silver Star in September, 1943 for Gallantry in Action. Awarded Bronze Star in August, 1944 for Heroism in Ground Combat. Awarded the French Croix De Guerre. Mayor, Kerns, Texas. Member, Texas House of Representatives from 1939 to 1942. Senator, Texas Senate from 1945 to 1949. Chairman, Gilmer-Aiken "Citizens Committee on Education." Adjutant General of Texas, 1961. Texas State Cemetery.
• United States Army, Texas National Guard. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

Other Resources

• Describes Senator Taylor's involvement in the political and legislative processes through which the Gilmer-Aikins bills became law. Includes senator's article "Texas Moves Forward in Education" reprinted from State Government, January 1950. Gilmer-Aikin Bills: a Study in the Legislative Process, 1950.
• Photograph, Gilmer-Aikin Bills: a Study in the Legislative Process, 1950.
• Letter from Major James E. Taylor to Walter H. Beck, 3/2/1944, describing the services of the Texas National Guard unit in Italy during World War II. Vol. 48, No. 2, October 1944, Texas Collection, pp. 281-285. Southwestern Historical Quarterly.

Photographs

• Photograph. James E. Taylor, 51st Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. James E. Taylor, 50th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Lt. Col. James E. Taylor, 49th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. Jas. E. Taylor, 47th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. James E. Taylor, 46th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 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.
• 50th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 51st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 46th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, west wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 47th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, west wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

51st R.S. - 1949 Banking   Commerce and Manufacturing   Contingent Expenses   Education   Employees Assignment, Special   Finance (Chair)  Game and Fish (Vice Chair)  Military Affairs   Rules   State Affairs   Veterans' Affairs   Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage

50th R.S. - 1947 Contingent Expense   Employees Assignment, Special   Engrossed Bills   Finance (Chair)  Governor's Mansion   Legislative Audit, Special   Nominations of Governor   Oil, Gas and Conservation   Public School System of Texas (Gilmer-Aikin), Special (Chair)  Rules (Vice Chair)  State Affairs

49th R.S. - 1945 Aeronautics   Commerce and Manufacturing   Congressional Districts   Constitutional Amendments   Education   Examine Enrolled Copy of HJR 13, Special   Finance   Investigate Natural Gas Resources, Special   Labor (Chair)  Military Affairs   Nominations of the Governor   Oil, Gas and Conservation   Rules (Chair)  State Affairs   Veterans' Affairs

47th R.S. - 1941 Constitutional Amendments   Military Affairs (Chair)  Public Printing   Revenue and Taxation (Vice Chair)

46th R.S. - 1939 Constitutional Amendments   Game and Fisheries   House Rules Revision   Public Printing   Representation Before the Legislature   Social Security Program Financing, Special   State Affairs   Stream Pollution