Legislative Reference Library

Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Vernon Lemens

Vernon Lemens
Full Name: William Vernon McKinney Lemens
Birth date: September 6, 1900
Death date: June 29, 1993

Terms of Service

(1) 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 .
(2) "John Lee Smith Succeeds Lemens as Senate Leader," 1/22/1943, p. 12. Mexia Weekly Herald .
(3) 45th Legislature - Oath of Office Administered to Senators-Elect, 1/12/1937, p. 2. Senate Journal .
(4) 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 .
(5) 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 .
(6) 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 .

Biographical Notes and Resources

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 .

Photographs

Other Resources

  • 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 .
  • William Vernon McKinney Lemens, birth date 9/6/1900; permanent home address in Rainbow, Somervell County, Texas; farming; father J.H. Lemens; draft registration 9/12/1918 in Somervell County. FamilySearch United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 .
  • Senator Vernon Lemens, birth date 9/6/1900, death date 6/29/1993, burial in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, Austin, Travis County. Find a Grave .
  • 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 .
  • 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 .
  • 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.

Committee Information

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