Allan Shivers

Full Name: Robert Allan Shivers
Date of birth: October 5, 1907
Date of death: January 14, 1985

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	4	Jan 12, 1943 - Jan 14, 1947	49th ⁽¹⁾ 48th ⁽²⁾ 49th ⁽¹⁾	Democrat	Port Arthur / Jefferson	Dean of the Senate. (49th)	Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange
S	4	Jan 10, 1939 - Jan 12, 1943	46th ⁽⁷⁾ 47th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁶⁾	Democrat	Port Arthur / Jefferson		Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange
S	4	Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 10, 1939	45th ⁽⁸⁾ ⁽⁹⁾ 44th ⁽¹⁰⁾ 45th ⁽⁸⁾ ⁽⁹⁾	Democrat	Port Arthur / Jefferson	Senate President Pro Tempore (45th)	Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange

(1) Although Senator Shivers shared seniority with Senators [Weaver] Moore and Sulak, the Senate Journal records the election of Senator Shivers as dean. See the Senate Journal, 49th Legislature, p. 9. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(2) Although Cotten shared seniority with Senators [Weaver] Moore, Shivers, and Sulak, a statement in the Senate Journal indicates that Senator Cotten was chosen dean. See the Senate Journal, 48th Legislature, p. 14. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(3) Caucus report for 47th Legislature, 1st called session signed, Olan R. Van Zandt, Dean of the Senate, p. 10. Senate Journal.
(4) Journal does not indicate who assumed title of Dean of the Senate during the regular session. However, Olan Van Zandt served as chair of the senate caucus, an honor traditionally bestowed upon the dean, pp. 9-11. Senate Journal.
(5) Journal does not confirm who assumed the title of dean during the regular session of the 47th legislature; however, Senator Van Zandt was chairman of the senate caucus, a honor traditionally bestowed on the dean of the senate. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(6) Lists Cotten, Hill, Weaver Moore, Shivers, Sulak, and Van Zandt as having most seniority, 47th Legislature. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(7) 46th Legislature - Roll Call of Senators-Elect, oath of office administered, 1/10/1939, p. 8. Senate Journal.
(8) 45th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 2nd C.S., elected 9/27/1937. Senate Journal.
(9) 45th Legislature - Roll Call of Senators, holdover Senators "who were Members of the Forty-fourth Legislature and whose terms of office continue for the duration of the Forty-fifth Legislature," 1/12/1937, pp. 1-2. Senate Journal.
(10) 44th Legislature - Roll Call of New Senators and Certificate of New Senators, oath of office administered, 1/8/1935, p. 1. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 4
Jan 12, 1943 - Jan 14, 1947
Legislatures: 49th ⁽¹⁾ 48th ⁽²⁾ 49th ⁽¹⁾
Dean of the Senate. (45th)
(45th)
(45th)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Port Arthur / Jefferson
Counties in district: Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange

Senate District 4
Jan 10, 1939 - Jan 12, 1943
Legislatures: 46th ⁽⁷⁾ 47th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁶⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Port Arthur / Jefferson
Counties in district: Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange

Senate District 4
Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 10, 1939
Legislatures: 45th ⁽⁸⁾ ⁽⁹⁾ 44th ⁽¹⁰⁾ 45th ⁽⁸⁾ ⁽⁹⁾
Senate President Pro Tempore (45th)
(45th)
(45th)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Port Arthur / Jefferson
Counties in district: Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

53rd Legislature, R.S., SR 94. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
54th Legislature, R.S., HCR 195. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
69th Legislature, R.S., HCR 18. Resolutions - Memorial.
69th Legislature, R.S., SCR 13. Resolutions - Memorial.
69th Legislature, R.S., SR 17. Resolutions - Memorial.

Biographical Sketches

Biography in LRL collection, 923.2764 SH69. Allan Shivers: The Pied Piper of Texas Politics, 1974.
SHIVERS, ROBERT ALLAN (1907-1985). Handbook of Texas Online.
Oral history interviews available in Oral History Collection, University of North Texas.
33rd Lieutenant Governor: Robert Allan Shivers. Photo and biographical sketch. Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846-2016, 2016.
Shivers, Robert Allan. Texas State Cemetery.
Book in LRL collection, 923.2764 SH69D 2005. Yellow Dogs and Republicans: Allan Shivers and Texas Two-Party Politics, 2005.

Military Service Notes

United States Army, World War II veteran. "War Veteran Wins Helm of State Senate," 8/25/1946. Dallas Morning News.
United States Army, Major. Biographical sketch: "In 1943 Shivers entered the United States Army and during the next two years served with the Allied Military Government in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. Upon his discharge from the army in 1945 with the rank of major (with five battle stars and the Bronze Star) . . ." Handbook of Texas Online.
"The President announced that Senator Shivers, now serving in the Armed Forces, has been granted permission by the proper authority to attend the Regular Session of the Forty-ninth Legislature and that he is now en route to the City of Austin." 49th Legislature, R.S., 1945, p. 8. Senate Journal.
Pictured in uniform in the 49th Senate composite photo as Maj. Allan Shivers. 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

Photo and defense of state claims to the Tidelands against the Truman administration, p. 112. Austin Lawyers: A Legacy of Leadership and Service, 2005.
Describes Lieutenant Governor Shivers' involvement in the political and legislative processes through which the Gilmer-Aikins bills became law. Gilmer-Aikin Bills: a Study in the Legislative Process, 1950.
Photograph, Gilmer-Aikin Bills: a Study in the Legislative Process, 1950.
Governor of Texas 1949-1957. Legislative Reference Library, Governors of Texas, 1846-present.
Occupational and biographical information - 45th Legislature, Chapter 1, "The Big Job," pp. 1-17. The Legislature and the Texas People, 1937.

Photographs

Photograph. Maj. Allan Shivers, 49th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Capt. Allan Shivers, 48th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Allan Shivers, 47th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Allan Shivers, 46th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Allan Shivers, 45th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Allan Shivers, 44th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Robert Allan Shivers, Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846-2006

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

44th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
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.

Committee Information top

49th R.S. - 1945 Aeronautics Banking Civil Jurisprudence Constitutional Amendments Criminal Jurisprudence Finance Investigating Committee Judicial Districts (Chair) Military Affairs (Chair) Nominations of the Governor Oil, Gas and Conservation Public Health Rules State Affairs Veterans' Affairs
48th R.S. - 1943 Banking Civil Jurisprudence Commerce and Manufacturing (Chair) Congressional Districts Constitutional Amendments Counties and County Boundaries Election Laws, Special Finance Interstate Cooperation Oil, Gas and Conservation Public Health State Affairs State Departments and Institutions
47th R.S. - 1941 Civil Jurisprudence Contingent Expenses (Vice Chair) Enrolled Bills Game and Fish General Investigating, Special Interstate Cooperation Labor Mining, Irrigation and Drainage (Chair) Nominations of Governor Public Lands and Land Office Rules State Affairs
46th R.S. - 1939 Contingent Expenses Criminal Jurisprudence Enrolled Bills Game and Fish Labor Local Bills, Special (SR 51) Mining, Irrigation and Drainage Nominations of Governor (Chair) Public Lands and Land Office Rules State Affairs (Vice Chair)
45th R.S. - 1937 Civil Jurisprudence Congressional Districts Contingent Expenses Game and Fish Insurance Internal Improvements Labor (Chair) Privileges and Elections Public Debts, Claims and Accounts (Vice Chair) State Affairs
44th R.S. - 1935 Civil Jurisprudence Congressional Districts Contingent Expenses Game and Fish (Chair) Insurance Internal Improvements Labor (Vice Chair) Privileges and Elections Public Debts, Claims and Accounts State Affairs State Penitentiaries Unemployment Compensation, Special

This website is a work in progress. Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

Party information is not available for the 1st-11th Legislatures.

Have a question, comment or contribution? Email the Library or call 512-463-1252.

Many photos in Texas Legislators: Past and Present are used with permission of the Texas State Preservation Board. For permission to reproduce these photos, please contact the Texas State Preservation Board graphics coordinator at 512-475-3060.