W.E. 'Pete' Snelson
Full Name: Wallace Eugene "Pete" Snelson
Birth date: March 28, 1923
Death date: April 26, 2014
Birth date: March 28, 1923
Death date: April 26, 2014
Terms of Service
-
Senate,
67th
(2)
(4)
& 66th Legislatures
1/9/1979 - 1/11/1983
Democrat
Dean of the Senate. -
Senate,
65th & 64th Legislatures
1/14/1975 - 1/9/1979
Democrat
-
Senate,
63rd
(1)
Legislature
1/9/1973 - 1/14/1975
Democrat
-
Senate,
62nd & 61st Legislatures
1/14/1969 - 1/9/1973
Democrat
Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim R.S., elected 5/31/1971; 1st C.S., elected 6/1/1971; and Ad Interim 1st C.S., elected 6/4/1971. -
Senate,
59th
(3)
Legislature
1/12/1965 - 1/10/1967
Democrat
-
House,
57th Legislature
1/10/1961 - 1/8/1963
Democrat
(2) 67th Legislature - Presentation of Deans of Senate, 1/13/1981, p. 8. [The Senate] selected 3 Members to serve as Deans of the Senate. Senator Brooks will serve the first 4 mos; Senator Mauzy the second 4 mos and Senator Snelson the last 4 mos of the year. Senate Journal .
(3) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1966 due to redistricting. Reapportionment of Senate districts occurred in the 59th Legislature, Regular Session (1965), ch. 324 (SB 547). Texas Constitution Art. III, ยง3, Election and term of office of Senators .
(4) Senators Brooks, Mauzy, and Snelson shared the title of dean. See the Senate Journal, 67th Legislature, Vol. I, p. 8. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate' 2002.
Biographical Notes and Resources
Selected Newspaper articlesResolutions and Journal entries
- 59th Legislature, R.S., SR 358. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 62nd Legislature, R.S., SR 806. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 83rd Legislature, R.S., SR 612. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 71st Legislature, 3rd C.S., SR 77. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 67th Legislature, R.S., SR 415. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 63rd Legislature, R.S., SR 399. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 66th Legislature, R.S., SR 354. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
- 64th Legislature, R.S., SR 353. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators
- Named one of 'The Best'. Best and Worst Legislators 1981.
- Named 'Honorable Mention'. Best and Worst Legislators 1979.
Photographs
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. W.E. (Pete) Snelson, State Preservation Board
Other Resources
- Memorial biographical sketch and photo. A State of Remembrance 2015.
- Biographical sketch, military photos, and military service. WALLACE E. (PETE) SNELSON; Patriot, Chapter 1919; Texas State Senator, Retired; Army, WWII, Europe. Includes news articles, "Fifth Snelson Brother Joins Armed Forces," and "Pete Snelson Selected to the Men of Mines." Military Order of the Purple Heart, Texas Capital Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas .
- Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974 1975.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Senate Biographies, 63rd Legislature 1973.
- Notice of death, 4/29/2014. Speaker of the House .
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 66th Legislature 1979.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 67th Legislature 1981.
- Snelson, Wallace Eugene. Texas State Cemetery .
- United States Army, Technical Sergeant, World War II; United States Army Reserve, Lieutenant. "In 1943, Pete was called to active duty by the US Army. After basic training, Pete was sent by the Army Specialized Training Program to the University of Nebraska to study German language, history, and culture. Pete joined the 44th Infantry Division, Company B of the 324th Infantry Regiment which was deployed to Cherbourg, France. On November 13, 1944, Pete's Company attacked the German line in the Vosges Mountains where he was wounded. After three months of recuperation, he was interviewed and selected for service as a Special Agent in the 307th Counter Intelligence Corp detachment at 7th Army Headquarters. Prior to Pete's discharge from the US Army as a Technical Sargent, he received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantryman's Badge. He remained in the US Army Reserve and was commissioned as a Lieutenant and served as a commander of the Counter Intelligence Corps unit at Fort Bliss, Texas." Texas State Cemetery .
- Biographical sketch and photo. The Senators of Texas, 64th Session 1975.
- United States Army, United States Army Reserve. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country 2017.
Committee Information
- 67th R.S. - 1981
- Education (Chair)
- 66th R.S. - 1979
- Intergovernmental Relations (Chair)
- 65th R.S. - 1977
- Intergovernmental Relations (Chair)
- Special Education, Interim (Chair)
- 64th R.S. - 1975
- Intergovernmental Relations (Chair)
- 63rd R.S. - 1973
- Education (Vice Chair)
- 62nd R.S. - 1971
- Education (Vice Chair)
- Intergovernmental Relations (Chair)
- Oil and Gas (Chair)
- 61st R.S. - 1969
- Commerce and Industry (Chair)
- Natural Fibers and Textile Development (Vice Chair)
- Oil and Gas (Vice Chair)
- 59th R.S. - 1965
- Counties, Cities and Towns (Vice Chair)
- 57th R.S. - 1961