Doyle Willis

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

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
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

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

54th Legislature, R.S., SR 61. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
61st Legislature, 1st C.S., HSR 48, birthday August 18. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
68th Legislature, R.S., HR 568. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
71st Legislature, R.S., HR 293, "get well." Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
72nd Legislature, 1st C.S., HR 280. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
72nd Legislature, 4th C.S., HR 35, honoring the members of the House of Representatives who have served in the military forces of the United States. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
72nd Legislature, R.S., HR 1070. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
74th Legislature, R.S., HR 1256, birth date 8/18/1908. Dean of the Texas House of Representatives. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
76th Legislature, R.S., HR 17, birthday August 8. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
78th Legislature, 1st C.S., HR 24. Did not pass. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
78th Legislature, R.S., HCR 154. Did not pass. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
74th Legislature, R.S., HR 95. Relatives: Doyle Willis and Phillip Willis - brothers. Resolutions - Memorial.
Memorial resolution for daughter, Dale Elizabeth Willis. 78th Legislature, 2nd C.S., HR 43. Resolutions - Memorial.

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

United States Army Air Corps, World War II, description of service. Obituary, Doyle Henry Willis. Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
United States Army Air Forces, Major, served in the Western Pacific and received the Bronze Star. 72nd Legislature, 4th C.S., HR 35. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
United States Army Air Corps. "During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps, earning the Bronze Star and four battle stars." A State of Remembrance, 2007.
United States Army Air Corps. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

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

Photograph. Doyle Willis, 74th Legislature, Members of the 74th Legislature Texas House of Representatives (CD-RW)
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 70th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 69th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 68th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 61st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 57th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 56th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 56th Legislature, Texas Yearbook, 56th Legislature
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 55th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 54th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 53rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 52nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 51st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Doyle Willis, 50th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 74th Legislature, 1995.

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

53rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
54th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
55th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
56th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
57th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
50th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
51st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
52nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
61st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
63rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
64th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
65th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
66th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
67th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
68th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
69th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
70th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
71st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
72nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
73rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
74th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

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.