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{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox Congressman

|honorific-prefix = [[The Honorable#United States|The Honorable]]
{{infobox officeholder
|name = George H. Mahon
|image = George H. Mahon.jpg
| name = George H. Mahon
| image = George H. Mahon.jpg
|birth_date= {{birth date|1900|09|22|mf=y}}
| image_size =
|birth_place= Mahon Community<br>[[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana|Claiborne Parish]]<br> [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]
| caption = Mahon, {{circa|1965}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|1985|11|19|1900|09|22|mf=y}}
| order = 41st
|death_place=[[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]]<br> [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]], [[Texas]]
| office = Dean of the United States House of Representatives
|order= 41st
| term_start = March 7, 1976
|office = Dean of the United States House of Representatives
| term_end = January 3, 1979
|term_start= March 7, 1976
| predecessor = [[Wright Patman]]
|term_end= January 3, 1979
| successor = [[Jamie Whitten]]
|predecessor= [[Wright Patman]]
| office1 = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]]
|successor= [[Jamie L. Whitten]]
| term_start1 = April 12, 1964
|state2 = [[Texas]]
| term_end1 = January 3, 1979
|district2 = [[Texas's 19th congressional district|19th]]
| predecessor1 = [[Clarence Cannon]]
|term_start2 = January 3, 1935
| successor1 = Jamie Whitten
|term_end2 = January 3, 1979
| state2 = [[Texas]]
|preceded2 = [[Joseph Weldon Bailey, Jr.]]
| district2 = {{ushr|TX|19|r}}
|succeeded2 = [[Kent Hance]]
| term_start2 = January 3, 1935
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
| term_end2 = January 3, 1979
|spouse=Helen Stephenson Mahon (ca. 1924-1985, his death)
| predecessor2 = [[Joseph Weldon Bailey Jr.]]
|children=One daughter
| successor2 = [[Kent Hance]]
|alma_mater=Loraine High School (Loraine, Texas)<br>
| birth_name =
[[Hardin-Simmons University]]<br>
| birth_date = {{birth date|1900|09|22}}
[[University of Texas Law School]]
| birth_place = [[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana]], U.S.
|residence=[[Colorado City, Texas|Colorado City]], Texas<br>
| death_date = {{death date and age|1985|11|19|1900|09|22}}
[[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], Texas<br>
| death_place = [[San Angelo, Texas]], U.S.
[[Washington, D.C.]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| father = John Kirkpatrick Mahon
| mother = Lola Willis
| spouse = {{marriage|Helen Stevenson|1923}}
| children = 1
| relatives =
| alma_mater = [[Hardin–Simmons University]]<br>[[University of Texas School of Law]]
| occupation = {{Hlist|Lawyer|politician}}
}}
}}
'''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]].


==Biography==
'''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]].
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.
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]].


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.
==Background==


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}}
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]]. While in college he married the former Helen Stephenson, and they had one daughter. In 1925, Mahon graduated from the [[University of Texas Law School]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].


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:George H. Mahon statue, Colorado City, TX IMG 4528.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Statue 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|accessdate=May 2, 2009}}L</ref>


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]].
[[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==

The [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] 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]].

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 web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/obituaries/2012-01-26/joe-b-phillips?v=1327541570|title=Joe B. Phillips obituary|publisher=''[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]]''|accessdate=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>

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>

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.

[[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.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{wikisource author|George Herman Mahon}}
{{wikisource author}}
*[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttusw/00154/tsw-00154.html Mahon papers, 1887-1986 and undated, in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University]
*[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttusw/00154/tsw-00154.html Mahon papers, 1887-1986 and undated, in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University]

{{House Appropriations Chairmen}}


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
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| years=1935&ndash;1979
| years=1935&ndash;1979
}}
}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box
| title=[[U.S. House Committee on Appropriations|Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations]]
| before=[[Clarence Cannon]]
| after=[[Jamie L. Whitten]]
| years=1964&ndash;1979}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Wright Patman]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Wright Patman]]}}
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{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


{{US House Deans}}
{{House Appropriations Chairmen}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahon, George Herman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahon, George Herman}}
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Hardin–Simmons University alumni]]
[[Category:Hardin–Simmons University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:District attorneys]]
[[Category:County district attorneys in Texas]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Politicians from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Claiborne Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Claiborne Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Mitchell County, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Colorado City, Texas]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas]]
[[Category:Texas Democrats]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American legislators]]
[[Category:People from Loraine, Texas]]
[[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"