Dolph Briscoe, Texas governor from 1973-79, dies

[kentauros]

Dolph Briscoe, Texas governor from 1973-79, dies
Dolph Briscoe Jr., 1923-2010

By Mike Ward

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Updated: 5:21 a.m. Monday, June 28, 2010
Published: 11:17 p.m. Sunday, June 27, 2010

Former Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr., the wealthy scion of a storied family descended from a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, died Sunday after a lengthy illness, according to a family statement. He was 87.

Briscoe had been hospitalized in January and had returned home only recently, according to family spokeswoman Ann Arnold. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Born on April 23, 1923, the son of a politically powerful and wealthy rancher and oilman, Briscoe, a Democrat, served as governor in 1973-79.

He grew up in Uvalde and graduated as valedictorian of the local high school. As a boy, Gov. Ross Sterling — a close friend of Briscoe's father — allowed him to sleep in Sam Houston's bed during an overnight stay at the Governor's Mansion.

I couldn't find any other stories with nearly as much info. If y'all have got some, post 'em :)

I vaguely remember him as governor. I remember campaigning for Mark White more clearly ;)

[sonias]

1. My condolences to the Briscoe family

May Governor Briscoe rest in peace.

He also became known for his philanthropic and historical donations. In 2008, the University of Texas named its Center for American History for Briscoe, who donated $15 million to the center. He had earlier donated his papers to the center, along with an 1849 daguerrotype that is the earliest-known photograph of the Alamo.

In July 2008, he became the first to contribute to a fund to restore the Governor's Mansion, which was heavily damaged by arson earlier that year. Briscoe, along with former Gov. Mark White and others, opposed plans for an addition to the mansion, which were scrapped in January. A smaller addition was approved in May.

[blogslut]

2. RIP

I met him a few times. He was very congenial.

[El Supremo]

3. The first politician who I was a delegate for.

A really nice guy with all the right motives.

(My avatar is in respect for UCLA beating TCU - I'm not a fan of UCLA)

[sonias]

4. Eagerness to share is Briscoe's legacy

AAS Editorial 6/30/10
Eagerness to share is Briscoe's legacy
(snip)
The University of Texas System and its institutions have prominence on a world scale because people like Gov. Briscoe and his late wife Janey — a former regent on this board — contributed selflessly their time and resources for the benefit of higher education," said H. Scott Caven Jr., then the board's chairman.

The Briscoes gave more than $26 million to the UT System, highlighted by $15 million to what was renamed the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at UT-Austin. The center houses one of the nation's great collections of historical documents. It is truly a treasure, one widely used by researchers from around the world. The center also includes the Institute for Studies in American Military History here in Austin, the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum in Bonham, the John Nance Garner Museum in Uvalde and the Winedale complex in Round Top.

Briscoe's donations also have paid for faculty and scholarship endowments at UT-San Antonio, cardiovascular research at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and medical programs at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

His giving was selfless, though at a 2008 ceremony thanking him for a $5 million donation to the health science center in San Antonio, Briscoe, who helped create the center, spoke emotionally about a personal reward for his donation.

(snip)
Some of us never know how we are to be repaid for good deeds. Dolph Briscoe found out in a most personal way. Many Texans will continue to benefit from his good deeds for many years.

It's a very nice tribute to his generosity.

Governor Briscoe is to be buried today in Uvalde. May he rest in peace and hopefully he's now with the love of his life Janey. :hug:

[sonias]

5. Former Texas governor leaves legacy of integrity, honor and love of state

Texas Uvalde Leader-News 7/1/10

Former Texas governor leaves legacy of integrity, honor and love of state

Texas lost a true gentleman and statesman when rancher, banker and former two-term Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr., 87, died Sunday at his home in Uvalde.

(snip)
Highlighting Briscoe's achievements in a political career that included serving in the Texas Legislature from 1949 to 1957 was shepherding to approval the Texas farm-to-market road system.

As governor from January 1973 to January 1979, he led Texas with fiscal responsibility. His was the first and last administration to hold the line on taxes since World War II.

(snip)
"As a Democrat, he practiced democracy in every aspect of his life more than anyone else I've ever known," said Briscoe's longtime friend Harry McAdams, who served as director of the office of state federal relations in Washington, D.C., when Briscoe was governor.

Gallego reiterated that statement. "He was the kind of person who could work with anybody and everybody."

"He was truly a champion of the public, signing into law the 1973 Texas Open Records Act guaranteeing the public's right to information about state and local government," said U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, who, with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, sponsored the naming of the Uvalde Post Office after Briscoe.

"Dolph Briscoe was many things - a rancher, a veteran, a benefactor, a governor - but above all, he was a Texan. Texas history was in his blood - his ancestors fought at San Jacinto and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. His love of Texas was evident throughout his years in the legislature and in the Governor's Mansion," said Hutchison, who served in the Texas Legislature while Briscoe was governor. "He will be remembered fondly as our Gentleman Governor," she said.