Jim T. Lindsey

Jim T. Lindsey
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 1st district
In office
January 11, 1949 – January 8, 1957
Preceded byJoe Tom Kennington
Succeeded byThomas H. Stilwell
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 1955 – January 8, 1957
Preceded byReuben E. Senterfitt
Succeeded byWaggoner Carr
Personal details
BornJim Thurston Lindsey
(1926-02-01)February 1, 1926
Sand Hill, Texas, US
DiedApril 2, 2013(2013-04-02) (aged 87)
Redwood Valley, California, US
PartyDemocratic Party
OccupationPolitician, lawyer

Jim Thurston Lindsey Sr. (February 1, 1926 – April 2, 2013) was an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, including a term as Speaker of the House

Early life, military service, and education

Lindsey was born on February 1, 1926, on a farm in Sand Hill, Bowie County, Texas,[1] the son of James Luke Lindsey and Bertie Lee Lindsey.[2] In 1941, he graduated from James Bowie High School. From 1942 to fall 1945, he served in the United States Army Air Forces and fought in World War II.[1] By 1949, he lived in Boston, moving to Texarkana by 1951.[3]

Lindsey studied at the University of Texas at Arlington before enlisting into the military. From 1945 to 1950, he studied at Baylor University,[1] graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and Latin honors.[2] He studied at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law while a member of the House.[1]

Career

Lindsey was a Democrat. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, from January 11, 1949, to January 8, 1957,[3] having been elected while still studying at Baylor.[1] He represented the 1st district, specifically place number 1, from January 13, 1953. From January 11, 1955, until the end of his tenure, he was Speaker of the House;[3] elected Speaker at age 28, he was one of the youngest to hold the office.[1] Ideologically, he was conservative,[2] his political career being defined by reforms.[1]

In the House, Lindsey was chairman of the Committee on Revenue and Taxation,[3] as well as vice-chairman of the Committee on Audits.[1] He was a member of the Committees on Aeronautics; on Banks and Banking; on Counties; on Education; on Engrossed Bills; on Highways and Roads; on Interstate Cooperation; on the Judiciary; on Military and Veteran's Affairs; on Motor Traffic; on Municipal and Private Corporations; and on State Affairs.[3]

After graduating from Baylor, Lindsey joined a law partnership in Texarkana.[1] In 1956, he was president of the Yexas Good Roads Association.[2] From 1956 to 1959, he was chairman of the Texas Democratic Executive Committee. After serving in the House, he practiced law, worked in finance, and operated a ranch.[1]

Personal life and death

Lindsey was married to Moja Yvonne Birdwell Lindsey[4] for almost 70 years; they had five children together.[1] He was a member of the Freemasons and the United States Junior Chamber. He later moved to Redwood Valley, California,[2] dying there on April 2, 2013, aged 87.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature 1846-2016 (PDF). Texas Legislative Council. 2016. p. 215.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Sharp, James Roger; Sharp, Nancy Weatherly; Atwater, Kevin D.; Petonito, Gina; Ritter, Charles F.; Wakelyn, Jon L. (June 30, 1999). American Legislative Leaders in the South, 1911-1994. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-313-03206-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Member profile for Jim T. Lindsey - Texas Legislative Reference Library". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Moja Lindsey". Texarkana Gazette. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.