|
Former governor Alan Shivers dies
On this day in 1985, former Texas governor Allan Shivers died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Robert Allan Shivers was born in Lufkin in 1907. His political career began at the University of Texas, where he was elected president of the Students' Association. In 1934 he became the youngest person ever elected to the state senate. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945, when he was discharged with the rank of major, having earned five battle stars and the Bronze Star. In 1946 he was elected lieutenant governor; he was reelected two years later. When Governor Beauford H. Jester died in 1949, Shivers assumed the governorship, which he held effectively for the next 7½ years. During his tenure he pushed through significant legislation as well as reforms of state government, but he was probably best known for defending state claims to the Tidelands against the Truman administration. During the last years of his governorship his popularity diminished, due in part to his opposition to Brown v. Board of Education, which legally ended segregation. And even though Shivers was never implicated, his administration became tainted with corruption because of state scandals involving insurance and veterans' lands. After retiring from politics in January 1957, Shivers managed his business interests in the Rio Grande Valley and served on the boards of several banks and on the UT Board of Regents.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- SHIVERS, ROBERT ALLAN
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- TEXAS LEGISLATURE
- TIDELANDS CONTROVERSY
- CIVIL-RIGHTS MOVEMENT
- VETERANS' LAND BOARD SCANDAL
- TEXAS SINCE WORLD WAR II
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- War effort proceeds as huge Texas base is activated (1942)
- Alianza Hispano-Americana founded (1894)
- Governor urges Texans to make sacrifices (1865)
|
