Jump to content

George H. Mahon: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
+cv
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
⚫
{{short description|American politician}}
<!-- Please do not remove or change this Copyvio message until the issue is settled -->
{{nobots}}
{{Copyvio/core
|url=Various. Presumptive, see [[Wikipedia:Contributor copyright investigations/20110727 03]]
|timestamp = 20230421213658
|fullpage =
}}
<!-- Do not use the "Copyvio/core" template directly; the above line is generated by {{subst:Copyvio}} -->
<!-- End of Copyvio message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->


⚫
{{short description|American politician}}
{{infobox officeholder
{{infobox officeholder
| name = George H. Mahon
| name = George H. Mahon
Line 25: Line 16:
| term_end1 = January 3, 1979
| term_end1 = January 3, 1979
| predecessor1 = [[Clarence Cannon]]
| predecessor1 = [[Clarence Cannon]]
| successor1 = [[Jamie Whitten]]
| successor1 = Jamie Whitten
| state2 = [[Texas]]
| state2 = [[Texas]]
| district2 = {{ushr|TX|19|19th}}
| district2 = {{ushr|TX|19|r}}
| term_start2 = January 3, 1935
| term_start2 = January 3, 1935
| term_end2 = January 3, 1979
| term_end2 = January 3, 1979
Line 46: Line 37:
| occupation = {{Hlist|Lawyer|politician}}
| occupation = {{Hlist|Lawyer|politician}}
}}
}}
'''George Herman Mahon''' (September 22, 1900 – November 19, 1985) was a [[Texas]] [[politician]] who served twenty-two consecutive terms (1935–1979) as a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from the [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]-based [[Texas's 19th congressional district|19th congressional district]]. He was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].
'''George Herman Mahon''' (September 22, 1900 – November 19, 1985) was an American politician and attorney. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], he served 22 consecutive terms as a member the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Texas]].

His legacies include the development of federal farm programs, the establishment of the former [[Reese Air Force Base]] in Lubbock and [[Webb Air Force Base]] in [[Big Spring, Texas|Big Spring]], leadership in the development of [[Interstate 27]], a short connection between [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]] and Lubbock, and disaster relief during [[drought]]s and [[tornado]]es common to [[West Texas]].

==Background==

Mahon was born to John Kirkpatrick Mahon and the former Lola Willis in the Mahon community near [[Haynesville, Louisiana|Haynesville]] in [[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana|Claiborne Parish]] in northern [[Louisiana]] near the [[Arkansas]] state line. In 1908, Mahon's family moved to [[Loraine, Texas|Loraine]] in [[Mitchell County, Texas|Mitchell County]], Texas, where young George graduated from Loraine High School. In 1924, he received his [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Baptist]]-affiliated [[Hardin-Simmons University]] in [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]]. He married the Helen Stevenson in 1923, and they had one daughter, Daphne.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92424316/abilene-reporter-news/|title=Congressman George Mahon Favored to win re-election in nearby nineteenth district|work=Abilene Reporter-News|date=1944-07-16|access-date=2022-01-12}}</ref> In 1925, Mahon graduated from the [[University of Texas Law School]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].

[[File:George H. Mahon statue, Colorado City, TX IMG 4528.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bust of Mahon on grounds of [[Mitchell County, Texas|Mitchell County]] Courthouse in [[Colorado City, Texas|Colorado City]], [[Texas]].]]
Mahon joined a friend, Charlie Thompson, in the opening of a law firm in [[Colorado City, Texas|Colorado City]]. He was elected county attorney for [[Mitchell County, Texas]] in 1926. Thereafter, Governor [[Dan Moody]] named Mahon [[district attorney]] of the thirty-second judicial district of Texas, a position which he held from 1927 to 1933, having been elected once after the initial gubernatorial appointment.<ref name=lubbock>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockcentennial.com/citysmost/index.shtml|title=Lubbock had a strong voice in Washington: George H. Mahon|publisher=Lubbockcentennial.com|access-date=May 2, 2009}}L</ref>

[[File:George Mahon Federal Building in Lubbock, TX IMG 0202.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The federal building in downtown [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]] is named for Mahon.]]

[[File:Mahon Library in Lubbock, TX IMG 0208.JPG|200px|right|thumb|The George and Helen Mahon Library in downtown Lubbock]]

[[File:George Mahon Park, Lubbock, TX IMG 0090.JPG|right|thumb|200px|George Mahon Park in Lubbock]]

==Congressional tenure==

Mahon was first elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in 1934, when he defeated Clark Millican of Lubbock in the [[runoff election]] for the seat. Lubbock residents, including [[Charles A. Guy]], the editor of the ''[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]]'', urged that the seat go to a Lubbock resident &ndash; Millican &ndash; because Lubbock is the largest city in the district. Rural areas, however, coalesced behind Mahon. Once in office, Mahon cemented his hold on Lubbock as well as the whole district and rarely had opposition in his reelection campaigns. In its 2008 centennial, the ''Avalanche-Journal'' declared Mahon the most influential figure in Lubbock's 20th century [[history]].<ref name=lubbock/>

Mahon was a delegate to each [[Democratic National Convention]] from 1936 to 1964, having participating in the nomination of all party standard-bearers from [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] to [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. He was the chairman of the [[U.S. House Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]] from 1964 until his retirement from the House in 1979. Known for his personal frugality, Mahon often clashed with presidents of both parties who he determined wanted to spend more money than the treasury could afford.<ref name=lubbock/> Early in his Congressional tenure, Mahon served on the committee that developed the [[Manhattan Project]]. In 1947-8, he served on the [[Herter Committee]].<ref name=Final>
{{cite web
|title=Final Report on Foreign Aid of the House Select Committee on Foreign Aid
|publisher = Marshall Foundation
|url=http://www.marshallfoundation.org/library/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/04/Studies_Prior_to_the_Marshall_Plan.pdf
|date=May 1, 1948
|access-date = May 30, 2020}}</ref>


==Biography==
He was one of the majority of the Texan delegation to decline to sign the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] opposing the desegregation of public schools ordered by the Supreme Court in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]''. However, Mahon voted against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|Civil Rights Acts of 1957]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42|title=HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1960|1960]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h102|title=HR 8601. PASSAGE.}}</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h128|title=H.R. 7152. PASSAGE.}}</ref> and [[Civil Rights Act of 1968|1968]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1967/h113|title=TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES.}}</ref> as well as the [[Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]] and the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/h193|title=S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/h87|title=TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT.}}</ref>
Born near [[Haynesville, Louisiana]], Mahon's family moved to Texas when he was a child. He graduated from [[Hardin–Simmons University]] in [[Abilene, Texas]], in 1924, and from the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] in 1925. Mahon was elected [[county attorney]] for [[Mitchell County, Texas]], in 1926, and he served as district attorney of the 32nd judicial district of Texas from 1927 to 1933.


Mahon was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1934. He was a delegate to each [[Democratic National Convention]] from 1936 to 1964.
On three occasions, 1962, 1964, and 1976, Mahon faced [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opponents Dennis Taylor, Joe B. Phillips (1925-2012), a Realtor from Lubbock and later the administrator of the Smithlawn Church of Christ Maternity Home and Adoption Agency,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lubbockonline.com/obituaries/2012-01-26/joe-b-phillips?v=1327541570|title=Joe B. Phillips obituary|newspaper=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]]|access-date=January 26, 2012}}</ref> and then [[Jim Reese (Texas politician)|Jim Reese]], a former mayor of [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], respectively. Mahon topped Taylor, 46,925 (67.1 percent) to 23,022 (32.9 percent) in the same election in which the Republican [[Ed Foreman]] of Odessa unseated the Democrat [[J.T. Rutherford]] in an adjacent West Texas congressional district. Mahon prevailed in 1964, 87,555 (77.6 percent) to Phillips's 25,243 (22.4 percent).<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', Vol. 2, U.S. House, 6th ed. (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 2010), p. 1270</ref>
[[File:John_McCormack_speaking_at_luncheon,_15_Feb_1966.JPEG|thumb|right|Mahon with [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]] [[John W. McCormack]] in 1966.]]


Mahon voted against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|Civil Rights Acts of 1957]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. -- House Vote #42 -- Jun 18, 1957 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1960|1960]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE … -- House Vote #106 -- Apr 21, 1960 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A … -- House Vote #182 -- Jul 2, 1964 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h182 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> and [[Civil Rights Act of 1968|1968]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR … -- House Vote #113 -- Aug 16, 1967 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1967/h113 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> which were directed at enforcing constitutional rights for African Americans and other minorities. He also opposed ratification of the [[Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF … -- House Vote #193 -- Aug 27, 1962 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/h193 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> and passage of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=TO AGREE TO CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1564, THE VOTING … -- House Vote #107 -- Aug 3, 1965 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/h107 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> which gave the federal government oversight and enforcement over state practices that discriminated against minority voters.
In his last race, Mahon defeated Reese, 87,908 (54.6 percent) to 72,991 (45.4 percent), with victory secured by his large margin in Lubbock County.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', p. 1305</ref><ref>Billy Hathorn, "Mayor Jim Reese of Odessa and the Republican Party in the Permian Basin", ''The [[West Texas Historical Association]] Year Book'', Vol. LXXXVII (October 2011), p. 136</ref> Mahon decided not to run again for the U.S. House in 1978, when Reese lost the Republican [[runoff election|runoff]] primary for the seat to [[George W. Bush]], who was then defeated in the general election by Democrat [[Kent Hance]], who subsequently switched parties.<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Mayor Ernest Angelo, Jr., of Midland and the 96-0 Reagan Sweep of Texas, May 1, 1976," ''[[West Texas Historical Association]] Yearbook'' Vol. 86 (2010), pp. 87-88</ref>


He was the chairman of the [[U.S. House Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations committee]] from 1964 until his retirement from the House in 1979, as well as the [[Dean of the United States House of Representatives|Dean of the House]] for his last three years. Mahon was also appointed on the panel for the [[Manhattan Project]].{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
⚫
After his years in the House, Mahon stayed in Washington to work with the [[Smithsonian Institution]], of which he was a regent from 1964 to 1978.


⚫
After his years in the House, Mahon stayed in Washington to work with the [[Smithsonian Institution]], for which he had served as a regent from 1964 to 1978.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
[[File:VonBraunFordMahon.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[U.S. Representative]] [[Gerald Ford|Gerald R. Ford, Jr.]], of [[Michigan]], MSFC director [[Wernher von Braun]], Representative George H. Mahon, and NASA Administrator [[James E. Webb]], visit the [[Marshall Space Flight Center]] on April 28, 1964, for a briefing on the Saturn program.]]


Mahon died in [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] of complications from knee [[surgery]]. He is interred at the Loraine City Cemetery in Loraine in Mitchell County alongside Mrs. Mahon, who died in 1987.
Mahon died on November 19, 1985, in [[San Angelo, Texas]], due to complications from surgery. He is interred in the Loraine City Cemetery in [[Loraine, Texas]].


==References==
==References==
Line 128: Line 91:
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:County district attorneys in Texas]]
[[Category:County district attorneys in Texas]]
[[Category:People from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Claiborne Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Claiborne Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Colorado City, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Colorado City, Texas]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American legislators]]
[[Category:People from Loraine, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Loraine, Texas]]
[[Category:Deans of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Deans of the United States House of Representatives]]

Latest revision as of 04:58, 16 January 2024

George H. Mahon
Mahon, c. 1965
41st Dean of the United States House of Representatives
In office
March 7, 1976 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byWright Patman
Succeeded byJamie Whitten
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee
In office
April 12, 1964 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byClarence Cannon
Succeeded byJamie Whitten
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 19th district
In office
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byJoseph Weldon Bailey Jr.
Succeeded byKent Hance
Personal details
Born(1900-09-22)September 22, 1900
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 19, 1985(1985-11-19) (aged 85)
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Helen Stevenson
​
(m. 1923)​
Children1
Parents
  • John Kirkpatrick Mahon (father)
  • Lola Willis (mother)
Alma materHardin–Simmons University
University of Texas School of Law
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician

George Herman Mahon (September 22, 1900 – November 19, 1985) was an American politician and attorney. A Democrat, he served 22 consecutive terms as a member the United States House of Representatives from Texas.

Biography

[edit]

Born near Haynesville, Louisiana, Mahon's family moved to Texas when he was a child. He graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, in 1924, and from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin in 1925. Mahon was elected county attorney for Mitchell County, Texas, in 1926, and he served as district attorney of the 32nd judicial district of Texas from 1927 to 1933.

Mahon was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1934. He was a delegate to each Democratic National Convention from 1936 to 1964.

Mahon voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[1] 1960,[2] 1964,[3] and 1968,[4] which were directed at enforcing constitutional rights for African Americans and other minorities. He also opposed ratification of the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution[5] and passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,[6] which gave the federal government oversight and enforcement over state practices that discriminated against minority voters.

He was the chairman of the Appropriations committee from 1964 until his retirement from the House in 1979, as well as the Dean of the House for his last three years. Mahon was also appointed on the panel for the Manhattan Project.[citation needed]

After his years in the House, Mahon stayed in Washington to work with the Smithsonian Institution, for which he had served as a regent from 1964 to 1978.[citation needed]

Mahon died on November 19, 1985, in San Angelo, Texas, due to complications from surgery. He is interred in the Loraine City Cemetery in Loraine, Texas.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. -- House Vote #42 -- Jun 18, 1957". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  2. ^ "HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE … -- House Vote #106 -- Apr 21, 1960". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  3. ^ "H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A … -- House Vote #182 -- Jul 2, 1964". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  4. ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR … -- House Vote #113 -- Aug 16, 1967". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  5. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF … -- House Vote #193 -- Aug 27, 1962". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  6. ^ "TO AGREE TO CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1564, THE VOTING … -- House Vote #107 -- Aug 3, 1965". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
[edit]
Wikisource has original works by or about:
George H. Mahon
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Representative from the 19th Congressional District of Texas
1935–1979 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations
1964–1979 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Dean of the House
1976–1979 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_H._Mahon&oldid=1196054238"