Gib Lewis: Difference between revisions

Gib Lewis
Gib Lewis
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
	In office; January 11, 1983 – January 12, 1993
Preceded by	Bill W. Clayton
Succeeded by	Pete Laney
Member of the; Texas House of Representatives; from Tarrant County
	In office; January 12, 1971 – January 12, 1993
Preceded by	Robert M. Burnett
Succeeded by	Homer Dear (District 89)
Personal details
Born	August 22, 1936 (age 88); Oletha, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sandra Majors Lewis
Children	2
Alma mater	Texas Christian University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1957–1961

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Gibson Donald "Gib" Lewis (born August 22, 1936) is an American politician and political consultant from Fort Worth, Texas. He was the first person to be elected five times as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a plea bargain agreement connected with his misdemeanor conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.^[1]

Early life and education

Lewis was born in Oletha in Limestone County, Texas, and raised in Mexia, Texas and Cleveland, Texas, where he graduated in 1955 from Cleveland High School. He then enrolled at Sam Houston State College. Lewis later enlisted in the United States Air Force and went on to serve as a B-52 aerial gunner. While stationed at Carswell Air Force Base, he continued his studies at Texas Christian University.

Career

Lewis was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1961.^[2] He then took a job as a salesman for a paper company and three years later, opened his own firm specializing in pressure-sensitive labels and decals. It grew into a multimillion-dollar business. Lewis continues as president of Lewis Label Products, Inc., today, three decades after its founding.^[3]

Since leaving the state legislature, he has lobbied state government on behalf of private clients.^[1]^[4]

He is the namesake of the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and the Gib Lewis Prison Unit in Woodville, Texas.

Politics

Lewis was elected Speaker in 1983 to succeed Bill W. Clayton of Springlake, Lamb County. He was a key figure in passing the 1984 education act, designed by Ross Perot and Democratic Governor Mark White, hailed at the time as one of the most sweeping public education reforms in Texas history. He was instrumental in the passage of the 1985 comprehensive Texas Water Plan. He later promoted legislation to combat crime, including stricter laws against drunk drivers. An avid sportsman, Lewis carried legislation creating the "Operation Game Thief" program and was a sponsor of the Uniform Game Management Act.^[4]^[5]

In 1969, Lewis was elected to the River Oaks City Council. He arrived the next year in Fort Worth, the county seat of Tarrant County.^[4]

In 1970, Lewis was elected to the House from Tarrant County. In 1973, he was named chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. In 1977, he chaired the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.

Criminal activity

Conviction on ethics charges

In January 1992, Lewis pleaded no contest to two charges alleging that he illegally accepted a gift from a prominent law firm in San Antonio, Texas, and failed to disclose the money on official financial reports filed with the state. As part of a plea bargain, Lewis agreed to not seek reelection and to pay a fine of $1,000 for each charge.^[1]^[6]

DWI arrest

In June 2009, Lewis was arrested in the capital city of Austin, on probable cause of driving while intoxicated. His breathalyzer test indicated a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.16 g/dl, twice the legal limit in Texas, and over three times the "best practices" limit recommended by the World Health Organization.^[7]^[8]

Personal life

Lewis is married to the former Sandra Majors. They have two daughters.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Gib Lewis Biography". Texas House Speakers Oral History. The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
^ http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1999/April%201999/0499famous.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ "Texas Politics - Speakers of the House: Gibson D. Lewis". Texaspolitics.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council (February 2002). Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846–2002 (PDF) (Revised 2002 ed.). Austin, Texas: The Council. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
^ "Lewis backs license suspension for DWI". Austin American-Statesman. February 15, 1991. p. B3.
^ Kuempel, George (January 23, 1992). "Lewis pleads no contest to 2 ethics accusations - Speaker fined $2,000, spared jail time". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
^ Fikac, Peggy (June 26, 2009). "Austin Police: Former House Speaker Gib Lewis arrested for DWI". mySA. San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
^ Global status report on road safety: time for action. World Health Organization. 2009. p. 22. ISBN 978-92-4-156384-0. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26. [B]lood alcohol concentration, or the equivalent breath alcohol content limits, ... should be 0.05 g/dl or below

External links

Lewis Label Products Company - A business founded by Lewis
Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library - The website of Lewis' namesake library
Lewis Label to Sponsor the 2016 Zest Festival, Texas

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Robert M. “Bob" Burnett	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 52-4 (Fort Worth) 1971–1973	Succeeded by Obsolete district
Preceded by Obsolete district	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 32-4 (Fort Worth) 1973–1977	Succeeded by Obsolete district
Preceded by Obsolete district	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 32-E (Fort Worth) 1977–1979	Succeeded by Charles Evans
Preceded by Roy English	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 32-G (Fort Worth) 1979–1983	Succeeded by Obsolete district
Preceded by Senfronia Thompson	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 89 (Fort Worth) 1983–1993	Succeeded by Homer Dear
Political offices
Preceded by Bill Clayton	Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives 1983-1993	Succeeded by Pete Laney

[utbio-1] "Gib Lewis Biography". Texas House Speakers Oral History. The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Retrieved 2009-06-26.

[2] ttps://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1999/April%201999/0499famous.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[3] "Texas Politics - Speakers of the House: Gibson D. Lewis". Texaspolitics.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-24.

[tlc2002-4] Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council (February 2002). Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846–2002 (PDF) (Revised 2002 ed.). Austin, Texas: The Council. Retrieved 2009-06-26.

[5] "Lewis backs license suspension for DWI". Austin American-Statesman. February 15, 1991. p. B3.

[tdmn1992-6] Kuempel, George (January 23, 1992). "Lewis pleads no contest to 2 ethics accusations - Speaker fined $2,000, spared jail time". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-06-26.

[7] Fikac, Peggy (June 26, 2009). "Austin Police: Former House Speaker Gib Lewis arrested for DWI". mySA. San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-26.

[8] Global status report on road safety: time for action. World Health Organization. 2009. p. 22. ISBN 978-92-4-156384-0. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-26. [B]lood alcohol concentration, or the equivalent breath alcohol content limits, ... should be 0.05 g/dl or below

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

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[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American politician}}
-{{Infobox Officeholder
+{{Infobox officeholder
-| image =Gib Lewis.jpg
+| image         = Gib Lewis.jpg
-| image_size=250px
+| name          = Gib Lewis
-| caption=Gib Lewis applauds Governor [[Mark White (Texas politician)|Mark White]]'s address to a joint session of the [[Texas Legislature]].
+| office        = [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives]]
-| honorific-prefix =
+| term_start    = January 11, 1983
-| name = Gibson Donald "Gib" Lewis
+| term_end      =January 12, 1993
-| office=[[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives]]
+| preceded      = [[Bill W. Clayton]]
-| term_start=1983
+| succeeded     = [[Pete Laney]]
-| term_end=1993
+| office2       = Member of the<br />[[Texas House of Representatives]]<br />from [[Tarrant County]]
-| preceded=[[Bill W. Clayton]]
+| term_start2   = January 12, 1971
-| succeeded=[[Pete Laney]]
+| term_end2     = January 12, 1993
-| office2=Member of the Texas House of Representatives from Tarrant County (districts vary)
+| preceded2     = Robert M. Burnett
-| term_start2=1971
+| succeeded2    = Homer Dear (District 89)
-| term_end2=1993
+| party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
-| preceded2=Robert M. Burnett (District 52)
+| birth_date    = {{birth date and age |1936|8|22}}
-| succeeded2=Homer Dear (District 89)
+| birth_place   = [[Oletha, Texas]], U.S.
-| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
+| death_date    =
-| birth_date = {{birth date and age |1936|8|22}}
+| death_place   =
-| birth_place = Oletha, [[Limestone County, Texas|Limestone County]], [[Texas]], USA
-| death_date =
+| resting_place =
+| spouse        = Sandra Majors Lewis
-| death_place =
+| children      = 2
-| resting_place=
+| parents       =
-| spouse = Sandra Majors Lewis
+| alma_mater    = [[Texas Christian University]]
-| children= 2 daughters
+| allegiance    = {{flag|United States}}
-| parents=
+| branch        = {{Flag|United States Air Force}}
-| residence =[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], Texas
+| serviceyears  = 1957–1961
-| alma_mater = Cleveland (Texas) High School<br>
+| unit          =
-[[Sam Houston State University]]
+| rank          =
-| occupation =[[Business]]man; [[lobbyist]]
-| profession =
-| religion =
-|allegiance={{flag|United States}}
-| branch={{air force|United States}}
-|serviceyears=1957-1961
-|unit=
-|rank=
 }}
-'''Gibson Donald Lewis''', known as '''Gib Lewis''' (born August 22, 1936), is a political consultant and a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] former [[politician]] from [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]. He was the first person to be elected five times as [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives]], but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a [[plea bargain]] agreement connected with his [[misdemeanor]] conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.<ref name="utbio">{{cite web
+'''Gibson Donald''' "'''Gib'''" '''Lewis''' (born August 22, 1936) is an American politician and political consultant from [[Fort Worth, Texas]]. He was the first person to be elected five times as [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives]], but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a [[plea bargain]] agreement connected with his [[misdemeanor]] conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.<ref name="utbio">{{cite web
 | title = Gib Lewis Biography
 | work = Texas House Speakers Oral History
@@ Line 45: / Line 38: @@
 }}</ref>
+==Early life and education==
-==Background==
-Lewis was born in [[Oletha, Texas|Oletha]] in [[Limestone County, Texas|Limestone County]] and reared partly in [[Mexia, Texas|Mexia]] in east central Texas. He spent his formative years in [[Cleveland, Texas|Cleveland]], Texas, where he graduated in 1955 from Cleveland High School. He then enrolled at [[Sam Houston State College]] in [[Huntsville, Texas|Huntsville]] in [[Walker County, Texas|Walker County]] in [[East Texas]]. Lewis later enlisted in the [[United States Air Force]] and went on to serve as a [[B-52]] aerial gunner. While stationed at [[Carswell Air Force Base]], he continued his studies at [[Texas Christian University]]. Lewis was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1961.<ref>http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1999/April%201999/0499famous.pdf</ref> He then took a job as a salesman for a paper company and three years later, opened his own firm specializing in pressure-sensitive labels and decals. It grew into a multimillion-dollar business. Lewis continues as president of Lewis Label Products, Inc., today, three decades after its founding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/leg/speakers/50.html |title=Texas Politics - Speakers of the House: Gibson D. Lewis |publisher=Texaspolitics.utexas.edu |date= |accessdate=2016-12-24}}</ref>
+Lewis was born in [[Oletha, Texas|Oletha]] in [[Limestone County, Texas]], and raised in [[Mexia, Texas]] and [[Cleveland, Texas]], where he graduated in 1955 from Cleveland High School. He then enrolled at [[Sam Houston State College]]. Lewis later enlisted in the [[United States Air Force]] and went on to serve as a [[B-52]] aerial gunner. While stationed at [[Carswell Air Force Base]], he continued his studies at [[Texas Christian University]].
+==Career==
-Since leaving the state legislature, he has [[Lobbying|lobbied]] state government on behalf of private clients.<ref name="utbio" /><ref name="tlc2002" />
+Lewis was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1961.<ref>http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1999/April%201999/0499famous.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> He then took a job as a salesman for a paper company and three years later, opened his own firm specializing in pressure-sensitive labels and decals. It grew into a multimillion-dollar business. Lewis continues as president of Lewis Label Products, Inc., today, three decades after its founding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/leg/speakers/50.html |title=Texas Politics - Speakers of the House: Gibson D. Lewis |publisher=Texaspolitics.utexas.edu |date= |accessdate=2016-12-24}}</ref>
+Since leaving the state legislature, he has [[Lobbying|lobbied]] state government on behalf of private clients.<ref name="utbio" /><ref name="tlc2002" />
-Lewis is married to the former Sandra Majors.<ref name="utbio"/>
 He is the namesake of the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library at the [[University of North Texas Health Science Center]] and the [[Gib Lewis Unit|Gib Lewis Prison Unit]] in [[Woodville, Texas|Woodville]], Texas.
+===Politics===
-==Political career==
 Lewis was elected Speaker in 1983 to succeed [[Bill W. Clayton]] of [[Springlake, Texas|Springlake]], [[Lamb County, Texas|Lamb County]]. He was a key figure in passing the 1984 education act, designed by [[Ross Perot]] and Democratic [[governor of Texas|Governor]] [[Mark White (Texas politician)|Mark White]], hailed at the time as one of the most sweeping public education reforms in Texas history. He was instrumental in the passage of the 1985 comprehensive Texas Water Plan. He later promoted legislation to combat crime, including stricter laws against drunk drivers. An avid sportsman, Lewis carried legislation creating the "Operation Game Thief" program and was a sponsor of the Uniform Game Management Act.<ref name="tlc2002">{{cite book | last = Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council | title = Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846–2002 | url = http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legis/officers/lewis.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2009-06-26 | edition = Revised 2002 |date=February 2002 | publisher = The Council | location = [[Austin, Texas]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title = Lewis backs license suspension for DWI
@@ Line 99: / Line 93: @@
 | isbn = 978-92-4-156384-0
 | page = 22
-| quote = &#91;B&#93;lood alcohol concentration, or the equivalent breath alcohol content limits, &hellip; should be 0.05 g/dl or below
+| quote = &#91;B&#93;lood alcohol concentration, or the equivalent breath alcohol content limits, ... should be 0.05 g/dl or below
-| url = http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009
+| url =https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009
+| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090618163703/http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009/
+| url-status =dead
+| archive-date =June 18, 2009
 | accessdate = 2009-06-26
 }}</ref>
+== Personal life ==
-{{Portal|Texas|Politics}}
+Lewis is married to the former Sandra Majors. They have two daughters.<ref name="utbio" />{{Portal|Texas|Politics}}
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
@@ Line 181: / Line 179: @@
 {{TXSpeakers}}
+{{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Gib}}
@@ Line 188: / Line 187: @@
 [[Category:Sam Houston State University alumni]]
 [[Category:Texas Christian University alumni]]
-[[Category:People from Fort Worth, Texas]]
+[[Category:Politicians from Fort Worth, Texas]]
 [[Category:Speakers of the Texas House of Representatives]]
-[[Category:Members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
+[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
-[[Category:Texas Democrats]]
+[[Category:Politicians from Austin, Texas]]
-[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
 [[Category:American lobbyists]]
 [[Category:United States Air Force airmen]]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF WorldCat
National	United States