Legislative Reference Library

Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Doyle Willis

Doyle Willis
Full Name: Doyle Henry Willis, Sr.
Birth date: August 18, 1907
Death date: June 22, 2006

Terms of Service

  • House, 74th Legislature
    1/10/1995 - 1/14/1997
    Democrat
  • House, 73rd Legislature
    1/12/1993 - 1/10/1995
    Democrat
  • House, 72nd Legislature
    1/8/1991 - 1/12/1993
    Democrat
  • House, 71st Legislature
    1/10/1989 - 1/8/1991
    Democrat
  • House, 70th Legislature
    1/13/1987 - 1/10/1989
    Democrat
  • House, 69th Legislature
    1/8/1985 - 1/13/1987
    Democrat
  • House, 68th Legislature
    1/11/1983 - 1/8/1985
    Democrat
  • House, 67th Legislature
    1/13/1981 - 1/11/1983
    Democrat
  • House, 66th Legislature
    1/9/1979 - 1/13/1981
    Democrat
  • House, 65th Legislature
    1/11/1977 - 1/9/1979
    Democrat
  • House, 64th Legislature
    1/14/1975 - 1/11/1977
    Democrat
  • House, 63rd Legislature
    1/9/1973 - 1/14/1975
    Democrat
  • House, 61st Legislature
    1/14/1969 - 1/12/1971
    Democrat
  • Senate, 57th (2) Legislature
    1/10/1961 - 1/8/1963
    Democrat
    Senate President Pro Tempore, 2nd C.S., elected 8/11/1961.
  • Senate, 56th & 55th Legislatures
    1/8/1957 - 1/10/1961
    Democrat
  • Senate, 54th & 53rd (1) Legislatures
    1/13/1953 - 1/8/1957
    Democrat
  • House, 52nd Legislature
    1/9/1951 - 1/13/1953
    Democrat
  • House, 51st Legislature
    1/11/1949 - 1/9/1951
    Democrat
  • House, 50th Legislature
    1/14/1947 - 1/11/1949
    Democrat
(1) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal .
(2) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1962 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, ยง3, Election and term of office of Senators .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Selected Newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

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

Photographs

Other Resources

  • Memorial biographical sketch and photo, birth date 8/18/1907. A State of Remembrance 2007.
  • 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.
  • 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 .
  • 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 .
  • United States Army Air Corps, World War II, description of service. Obituary, Doyle Henry Willis. Fort Worth Star-Telegram .
  • Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974 1975.
  • 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.

Committee Information

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