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Bill Ratliff

Bill Ratliff

Full Name: William Roark "Bill" Ratliff

Terms of Service

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 1 Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 10, 2004 78th (1) (2) (3)   Republican Mount Pleasant / Titus   Bowie, Camp, Cass, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Wood
S 1 Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 14, 2003 77th (4) (5)   76th   Republican Mount Pleasant / Titus   Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur
S 1 Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 12, 1999 75th (6)   74th (7)   Republican Mount Pleasant / Titus Senate President Pro Tempore (75th)   Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur
S 1 Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995 73rd (8) (9)   Republican Mount Pleasant / Titus   Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus, Upshur
S 1 Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 12, 1993 72nd   71st   Republican Mount Pleasant / Titus   Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Titus, Upshur

Terms of service footnotes


(1) Member retiring. "Ratliff to step down Jan. 10," 11/21/2003. Dallas Morning News.
(2) Kevin Eltife, in special election 2/17/2004, sworn 3/5/2004, succeeded William R. Ratliff, resigned 1/10/2004. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) 78th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/2003, SR 7, pp. 15-16. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(4) Ratliff simultaneously held position of lieutenant governor and of senator as provided in Section 9, Article III, Texas Constitution, following Lieutenant Governor Perry's succession to governor. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(5) Elected Lieutenant Governor by colleagues in Texas Senate 12/28/2000. Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846-2016, 2016.
(6) 75th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim R.S., elected 6/2/1997. Senate Journal.
(7) 74th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1995, pp. 75-76. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(8) 73rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/25/1993, pp. 589-590. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(9) Due to redistricting litigation, entire Senate went up for reelection in 1994. See also Clips database, 4/6/1993 - 4/8/1993, Redistricting - Legislature; and Guide to 2001 Redistricting - Appendix A, 1990s Redistricting (Texas Legislative Council). Terrazas v. Slagle, 821 F.Supp. 1162 (April 5, 1993), 1993.

Terms of Service

Legislatures:
78th (1) (2) (3)  
Party:
Republican
Home City/County:
Mount Pleasant / Titus
Counties in district:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Wood

Legislatures:
77th (4) (5)   76th  
Party:
Republican
Home City/County:
Mount Pleasant / Titus
Counties in district:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur

Legislatures:
75th (6)   74th (7)  
Leadership role:
Senate President Pro Tempore (75th)
(74th)
Party:
Republican
Home City/County:
Mount Pleasant / Titus
Counties in district:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur

Legislatures:
73rd (8) (9)  
Party:
Republican
Home City/County:
Mount Pleasant / Titus
Counties in district:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus, Upshur

Legislatures:
72nd   71st  
Party:
Republican
Home City/County:
Mount Pleasant / Titus
Counties in district:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Titus, Upshur

Terms of service notes


(1) Member retiring. "Ratliff to step down Jan. 10," 11/21/2003. Dallas Morning News.
(2) Kevin Eltife, in special election 2/17/2004, sworn 3/5/2004, succeeded William R. Ratliff, resigned 1/10/2004. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) 78th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/2003, SR 7, pp. 15-16. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(4) Ratliff simultaneously held position of lieutenant governor and of senator as provided in Section 9, Article III, Texas Constitution, following Lieutenant Governor Perry's succession to governor. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(5) Elected Lieutenant Governor by colleagues in Texas Senate 12/28/2000. Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846-2016, 2016.
(6) 75th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim R.S., elected 6/2/1997. Senate Journal.
(7) 74th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1995, pp. 75-76. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal.
(8) 73rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/25/1993, pp. 589-590. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(9) Due to redistricting litigation, entire Senate went up for reelection in 1994. See also Clips database, 4/6/1993 - 4/8/1993, Redistricting - Legislature; and Guide to 2001 Redistricting - Appendix A, 1990s Redistricting (Texas Legislative Council). Terrazas v. Slagle, 821 F.Supp. 1162 (April 5, 1993), 1993.

Biographical Information

  • "Texas' Ratliff Among Profiles in Courage Winners," 5/17/2005, p. A2. Austin American-Statesman.
  • Star Legislator, "Legislative Stars Shine Through Difficult Session," Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 1995, pp. 8-9, 29. The Classroom Teacher: The Magazine of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
  • Relatives: William "Bill" Ratliff - father; Bennett Ratliff - son. "Five GOP Candidates Vying to Replace Longtime Texas House District 115 Representative," 5/20/2012. Dallas Morning News.
  • Bill Ratliff named 2005 recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, March 10, 2005. John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.
  • News release: "Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Former Texas Senator Bill Ratliff receive 2005 Profile in Courage Award," 5/16/2005. John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.
  • Remarks of Bill Ratliff, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, at the 2005 Profile in Courage awards ceremony, 5/16/2005. John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.
  • Interview on school finance reform [SB 7, 73rd Legislature], natural resources, tort reform, and engineering, "Senator Bill Ratliff, P.E. Looks at How the 74th Texas Legislature Shapes Up," January/February 1995, p. 10. Texas Professional Engineer.
  • William R. Ratliff. Texas State Cemetery.

  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 78th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 77th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 76th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 75th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 72nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Bill Ratliff, Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846-2006

Committee Information

Senate Committees

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