Vernon Lemens
Full Name: Vernon Lemens
Date of birth: September 6, 1900
Date of death: June 29, 1993
Terms of Service top
Chamber |
District |
Dates of Service |
Legislatures |
Party |
City/County |
Note |
Counties in District |
S
|
12
|
Jan 14, 1941 - Jan 9, 1945
|
48th
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
47th
48th
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
|
Democrat
|
Waxahachie / Ellis
|
Senate President Pro Tempore (48th)
|
Ellis, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Somervell
|
S
|
12
|
Jan 12, 1937 - Jan 14, 1941
|
45th
(6)
46th
(5)
|
Democrat
|
Rainbow / Somervell
|
|
Ellis, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Somervell
|
H
|
98
|
Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 12, 1937
|
44th
|
Democrat
|
Rainbow / Somervell
|
|
Bosque, Johnson, Somervell
|
H
|
98
|
Jan 10, 1933 - Jan 8, 1935
|
43rd
(7)
|
Democrat
|
Rainbow / Somervell
|
|
Bosque, Johnson, Somervell
|
H
|
98
|
Jan 13, 1931 - Jan 10, 1933
|
42nd
|
Democrat
|
Rainbow / Somervell
|
|
Bosque, Johnson, Somervell
|
H
|
98
|
Jan 8, 1929 - Jan 13, 1931
|
41st
|
Democrat
|
Rainbow / Somervell
|
|
Bosque, Johnson, Somervell
|
(1)
48th Legislature - Communication from Honorable Vernon Lemens to Lieutenant Governor John Lee Smith dated 4/26/1943, resigning from committee on textbook purchases due to military duties, 5/11/1943, p. 1176.
Senate Journal.
(2)
48th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Regular Session, elected 1/12/1943. Senator Fred Mauritz elected 3/10/1943 to serve until the return of President Pro Tempore Lemens.
Senate Journal.
(3)
"John Lee Smith Succeeds Lemens as Senate Leader," 1/22/1943, p. 12.
Mexia Weekly Herald.
(4)
Served as President Pro Tempore in 1943 concurrently with military service as first lieutenant at Camp Hood. "Sen. Lemens Serves Both Tex., Nation," 1/13/1943, p. 1; "Second President Pro Tem of Tex. Senate Elected," 3/11/1943, p. 1; "[Promo]ted to Captain," 3/15/1943, p. 1.
Waxahachie Daily Light.
(5)
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.
(6)
45th Legislature - Oath of Office Administered to Senators-Elect, 1/12/1937, p. 2.
Senate Journal.
(7)
Name, postoffice, occupation, association membership, relationship to persons in state or county government. Resolution, 9/18/1933, pp. 45-48, and Questionnaire Authorized and Directed by Resolution Adopted by the House, 10/11/1933, pp. 588-601.
House Journal.
Biographical Notes and Resources top
Selected Newspaper articles
Resolutions and Journal entries
- 74th Legislature, R.S., HR 1059. Memorializing 35 members who died in the past two years.
Resolutions - Memorial.
Biographical Sketches
- Biographical sketch, "Lemens' Papers on Display at Heritage Society," 8/21/2008.
Glen Rose Reporter.
- Biographical sketch, "Who's Who and What's What in the Texas Legislature," by Ed Kilman, 2/8/1929, p. 18.
Houston Post-Dispatch.
Military Service Notes
- United States Army, Headquarters, Eighth Service Command and Judge Advocate General of Camp Swift. Texas National Guard, Judge Advocate General, Lieutenant Colonel. Obituary, Vernon Lemens, Lt. Col., Ret., 7/1/1993.
Austin American-Statesman.
- World War II service, Army Lieutenant, "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, Texas National Guard. "He volunteered for the Army during World War I in 1918. He joined the Student Army Training Corp and was able to complete his degree in 1921, majoring in physics . . . On April 6, 1942, Lemens was notified that he had been called for active duty in the Army.
He worked stateside for the Army prosecuting war criminals and prisoners of war. Due to his military service, Lemens was unable to campaign for re-election and consequently lost his seat in the Senate.
In the fall of 1945, Lemens separated from the Army and joined the Texas National Guard. He retired in 1960 from the Guard and never returned to politics." "Lemens' Papers on Display at Heritage Society," 8/21/2008.
Glen Rose Reporter.
- Pictured in uniform in 48th Senate composite photo and listed as Capt. Vernon Lemens.
State Preservation Board.
- 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
- Senator Vernon Lemens, birth date 9/6/1900, death date 6/29/1993, burial in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery.
Find a Grave.
- Obituary, 7/1/1993.
Austin American-Statesman.
Photographs
- Photograph.
Capt. Vernon Lemens, 48th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 47th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 46th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 45th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 44th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 43rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 42nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph.
Vernon Lemens, 41st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol
Committee Information top
48th R.S. - 1943
Agricultural Affairs
Banking
Civil Jurisprudence
Constitutional Amendments
Criminal Jurisprudence
Federal Relations
Insurance
Military Affairs
Nominations of the Governor
Privileges and Elections
State Affairs
State Departments and Institutions
(Chair)
Textbooks and The University of Texas, Investigation, Special and Interim
Towns and City Corporations
|
47th R.S. - 1941
Agriculture
Banking
Criminal Jurisprudence
(Chair)
Enrolled Bills
Finance
Insurance
Labor
Military Affairs
Nominations of Governor
Public Debts, Claims and Accounts
Public Health
(Vice Chair)
Towns and City Corporations
|
46th R.S. - 1939
Agriculture
Counties and County Boundaries
Finance
Insurance
(Vice Chair)
Labor
Local and Non-contested Bills, Special (SR 47)
Military Affairs
Public Debts, Claims and Accounts
Public Health
State Institutions and Departments
(Chair)
Towns and City Corporations
|
45th R.S. - 1937
Agricultural Affairs
Contingent Expenses
Counties and County Boundaries
Criminal Jurisprudence
Finance
General Appropriations Bill Preparation, Special
Insurance
Internal Improvements
(Chair)
Interstate Cooperation
(Vice Chair)
Military Affairs
(Chair)
Nominations of the Governor
Public Health
State Institutions and Departments
(Vice Chair)
Towns and City Corporations
|
44th R.S. - 1935
Common Carriers
Inspect Property at Milford, Texas, as Housing Facility for Dependent and Neglected Children, Special
Insurance
Judiciary
Local Bills, Special
Privileges, Suffrage, and Elections
Racing Law Funds, Special
|
43rd R.S. - 1933
Contingent Expenses
Education
Insurance
Privileges, Suffrage and Elections
Public Health
|
42nd R.S. - 1931
Appropriations
Criminal Jurisprudence
Insurance
(Vice Chair)
Military Affairs
State Affairs
|
41st R.S. - 1929
Criminal Jurisprudence
Insurance
Labor
Military Affairs
|
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