Doyle Willis

Doyle Willis

Full Name: Doyle Henry Willis, Sr.
Date of birth: August 18, 1907
Date of death: June 22, 2006

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
H 90 Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997 74th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 90 Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995 73rd   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 90 Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993 72nd   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 90 Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991 71st   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 90 Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 10, 1989 70th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 90 Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 13, 1987 69th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 90 Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985 68th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 32-F Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983 67th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 32-F Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981 66th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 32-F Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979 65th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 32-9 Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977 64th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 32-9 Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975 63rd   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 52-6 Jan 14, 1969 - Jan 12, 1971 61st   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
S 10 Jan 10, 1961 - Jan 8, 1963 57th (1) (2)   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant Senate President Pro Tempore (57th)   Tarrant
S 10 Jan 8, 1957 - Jan 10, 1961 55th (3)   56th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
S 10 Jan 13, 1953 - Jan 8, 1957 53rd (4)   54th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 101-3 Jan 9, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953 52nd   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 101-3 Jan 11, 1949 - Jan 9, 1951 51st   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant
H 101-3 Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 11, 1949 50th   Democrat Fort Worth / Tarrant   Tarrant

(1) 57th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 2nd C.S., elected 8/11/1961. Senate Journal.
(2) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1962 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(3) Lawyer, farmer. "55th Texas Legislature: 20 Senators, 62 Representatives of 55th Legislature Are Lawyers; Other Legislators Have Varied Occupations, Jobs," Volume 20, Number 1, January 1957, pp. 6, 7, 48. Texas Bar Journal.
(4) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

House District 90
Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997
Legislatures: 74th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 90
Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995
Legislatures: 73rd  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 90
Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993
Legislatures: 72nd  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 90
Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991
Legislatures: 71st  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 90
Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 10, 1989
Legislatures: 70th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 90
Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 13, 1987
Legislatures: 69th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 90
Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985
Legislatures: 68th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 32-F
Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983
Legislatures: 67th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 32-F
Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981
Legislatures: 66th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 32-F
Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979
Legislatures: 65th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 32-9
Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977
Legislatures: 64th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 32-9
Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975
Legislatures: 63rd  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 52-6
Jan 14, 1969 - Jan 12, 1971
Legislatures: 61st  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
Senate District 10
Jan 10, 1961 - Jan 8, 1963
Legislatures: 57th (1) (2)  
Senate President Pro Tempore (57th)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
Senate District 10
Jan 8, 1957 - Jan 10, 1961
Legislatures: 55th (3)   56th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
Senate District 10
Jan 13, 1953 - Jan 8, 1957
Legislatures: 53rd (4)   54th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 101-3
Jan 9, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953
Legislatures: 52nd  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 101-3
Jan 11, 1949 - Jan 9, 1951
Legislatures: 51st  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant
House District 101-3
Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 11, 1949
Legislatures: 50th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Fort Worth / Tarrant
Counties in district: Tarrant

(1) 57th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 2nd C.S., elected 8/11/1961. Senate Journal.
(2) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1962 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(3) Lawyer, farmer. "55th Texas Legislature: 20 Senators, 62 Representatives of 55th Legislature Are Lawyers; Other Legislators Have Varied Occupations, Jobs," Volume 20, Number 1, January 1957, pp. 6, 7, 48. Texas Bar Journal.
(4) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

Biographical Sketches

  • Obituary, funeral articles, photos, and guestbook, Doyle Henry Willis:
    "Feisty 'Dean' of Texas Politics, WWII Veteran," 6/23/2006, p. 7B.
    Obituary, Doyle Henry Willis, 6/24/2006, p. 11B. "[Doyle] Willis served with his brother, Phillip . . . They were the first brothers to serve together in the Texas House of Representatives." Doyle Willis was "known as the dean of the Texas Legislature."
    "At Our Service," Editorial, 6/24/2006, p. 12B.
    "The Insider: Colleagues Honor Political Icon," 6/25/2006, p. 4B.
    "Big Farewell: Late Lawmaker Doyle Willis Honored as Champion of the Underdog, 6/27/2006, pp. 1B, 6B. "In all, he served 42 years, the second-longest tenure in Texas history."
    "Working-class Texans Honor Grit and Tenacity of Loyal Old Friend," 6/27/2006, pp. 1B, 6B. Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • Memorial biographical sketch and photo, birth date 8/18/1907. A State of Remembrance, 2007.

Military Service Notes

Other Resources

  • Doyle Henry Willis, birth date 8/18/1907, death date 6/22/2006, obituary, photos, burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant County. Find a Grave.
  • Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975.
  • Mentioned in Curtis Bishop, "Historic Names in the 54th: Descendants of many who made early Texas history carry on family traditions of service to their State as members of the 54th Legislature," Volume XVI, Number 1, June 1955, pp. 37, 38, 40. Texas Parade.

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

  • Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1975.
  • Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1973.
  • Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1995.

Photographs

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

Committee Information top

74th R.S. - 1995
House Administration  
Judicial Affairs  
Military and Veterans Affairs, Select (Chair) 
Pensions and Investments  
73rd R.S. - 1993
Elections  
General Investigating (Vice Chair) 
International and Cultural Relations  
Veterans' Affairs, Special (Chair) 
72nd R.S. - 1991
Cultural and Historical Resources (Vice Chair) 
General Investigating (Chair) 
Retirement and Aging  
Retirement and Aging Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight  
71st R.S. - 1989
Cultural and Historical Resources (Vice Chair) 
General Investigating (Chair) 
House Administration  
Science and Technology  
70th R.S. - 1987
Appropriations (Vice Chair) 
Child Abuse and Pornography, Select (Chair) 
Liquor Regulation  
69th R.S. - 1985
Appropriations (Vice Chair) 
Child Abuse and Pornography, Select, Interim (Chair) 
House Administration  
Liquor Regulation  
68th R.S. - 1983
Appropriations (Vice Chair) 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight (Chair) 
Child Abuse and Pornography, House Joint (Chair) 
House Administration  
House Administration Subcommittee on Publications  
Regions, Compacts and Districts  
67th R.S. - 1981
Appropriations  
Child Abuse/Neglect and Child Pornography, Select (Chair) 
House Administration  
Regions, Compacts, and Districts  
66th R.S. - 1979
Appropriations  
Child Abuse/Neglect and Child Pornography, Select (Chair) 
Constitutional Amendments  
65th R.S. - 1977
Appropriations  
Child Abuse, House Joint (Chair) 
Funding Public Institutions of Higher Education, House Joint  
64th R.S. - 1975
Higher Education  
Intergovernmental Affairs  
Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Local Government  
63rd R.S. - 1973
Appropriations  
Labor  
Transportation  
61st R.S. - 1969
Congressional and Legislative Districts  
Enrolled and Engrossed Bills  
Labor Surplus  
Penitentiaries  
Revenue and Taxation  
Urban Affairs  
57th R.S. - 1961
Banking  
Education  
Finance  
Game and Fish  
Insurance  
Military and Veterans Affairs  
Oil and Gas  
Privileges and Elections (Chair) 
State Affairs  
State Health and Welfare Services Coordinating Commission  
Texas Turnpike Authority Problems  
56th R.S. - 1959
Aged  
Banking  
Education (Chair) 
Game and Fish  
Insurance  
Military and Veterans Affairs  
Oil and Gas  
State Affairs  
55th R.S. - 1957
Aged Citizens  
Agriculture and Livestock  
Counties, Cities and Towns  
Education (Chair) 
Game and Fish  
Industrial and Occupational Safety Commission  
Insurance  
Military and Veterans Affairs  
Oil and Gas  
State Affairs  
54th R.S. - 1955
Aeronautics  
Commerce and Manufacturing  
Education (Vice Chair) 
Federal Relations (Chair) 
Game and Fish  
Highways and Motor Traffic  
Military and Veterans Affairs  
Oil, Gas and Conservation  
State Affairs  
Stock and Stock Raising  
53rd R.S. - 1953
Commerce and Manufacturing  
Committee of the Whole Senate  
Educational Affairs  
Federal Relations (Chair) 
Game and Fish  
Insurance  
Military and Veterans' Affairs (Vice Chair) 
Nominations of the Governor  
Oil, Gas and Conservation  
State Affairs  
State Penitentiaries  
Stock and Stock Raising  
52nd R.S. - 1951
Constitutional Amendments  
Criminal Jurisprudence  
Municipal and Private Corporations (Chair) 
Poet Laureate Selection, Special  
School Districts  
51st R.S. - 1949
Judiciary  
Motor Traffic (Chair) 
Municipal and Private Corporations  
Oil, Gas and Mining (Vice Chair) 
Public Health  
50th R.S. - 1947
Judiciary  
Labor  
Livestock and Stock Raising  
Oil, Gas, and Mining  
Public Health  

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.