William T. Moore (Texas politician)
William T. Moore | |
|---|---|
| Member of the J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr. | |
| Succeeded by | Jep S. Fuller |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
| In office 1947–1949 | |
| Preceded by | George E. Adams |
| Succeeded by | James K. Presnal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Tyler Moore April 9, 1918 Wheelock Robertson County Texas, USA |
| Died | May 27, 1999 (aged 81) Bryan, Brazos County Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Macille Moore |
| Children | W. Tyler Moore, Jr. |
| Residence(s) | Bryan, Texas |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University University of Texas Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer Businessman |
William Tyler Moore, Sr.(April 9, 1918 – May 27, 1999)
After thirty-two years in the Senate, Moore was unseated in the 1980 party primary by former Bryan City Judge Kent Caperton, who was born the year that Moore entered the upper chamber of the state legislature. Caperton received 52.6 percent of the ballots cast.[3]
Though he was dubbed by the media as the "Bull of the Brazos," a reference to the intrastate Brazos River to the west of Bryan, Moore is also remembered as the lawmaker who pushed most forcefully for the physical expansion of the campus and the admission of women to his alma mater, Texas A&M University in College Station.[1]
Background
Moore was born in
In addition to his law practice, Moore and J. C. Culpepper developed the Manor East Mall and the Sherwood Health Care Facility in Bryan. He also led the legislative fight to have St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan declared a regional health provider.[1]
Powerful legislator
Moore was sometimes called "the most powerful man in state government" for his ability to get the state Senate to follow his lead. Robert "Bob" Cherry, a former assistant chancellor at Texas A&M, told the
Working across party lines, Moore was friendly with
The race against Caperton was the first challenge that Moore had faced in years. Caperton, the 31-year-old opponent, TAMU graduate, and formerly from Caldwell in Burleson County, courted younger voters in the district who remained steadfast to the Democratic Party. A number of former Democratic primary voters had by 1980 turned Republican and were no longer available to vote to re-nominate Moore. Former Brazos County Judge W. T. "Tom" McDonald recalled that Moore was "devastated" when he was unseated by Caperton: "The district had changed, and he didn't realize it and was blindsided."[1]
Promoting Texas A&M
Bob Cherry called Moore "the father of the modern Texas A&M University," noting that Moore could skillfully pass or kill bills in the interest of TAMU. On March 3, 1953, Moore first introduced a resolution calling for the admission of women to TAMU. The TAMU historian Henry C. Dethloff in A Centennial History of Texas A&M University, 1876-1976, noted that Moore believed the institution "had stagnated since World War II and had experienced a decline in enrollment partially because of its refusal to become coeducational."[1] Though the Texas Senate adopted Moore's resolution by voice vote, older alumni voiced objections in telephone calls and letters. Senators then reversed themselves on a 28–1 vote, with Moore being the dissenter. Dethloff continued, "Moore predicted that A&M would be coeducational within ten years," exactly on the timetable.[1]
According to Cherry, Moore in 1963 informed newly inaugurated Governor
In May 1976, Texas Aggie magazine said that Moore had "done more for Texas A&M University in recent years than any other individual He authored or co-authored every bill that affected Texas A&M and its growth."[1]
Death and legacy
Moore died in Bryan at the age of eighty-one. He was survived by his wife, Macille Moore of Bryan; a son and daughter-in-law, W. Tyler Moore, Jr., an attorney in Bryan,
Tom McDonald said that he always knew where his friend Moore stood: "He wasn't like one of those spin- doctor types we have now. When he was saying something, you knew it was coming from Bill Moore, not from some speechwriter or pollster or someone like that."[1] Tyler Moore said that his father had "a genuinely kind heart beneath that gruff exterior."[1]
References
- ^ Bryan-College Station Eagle, May 28, 1999, pp. 1-3
- ^ a b "Legislative Reference Library: W. T. "Bill" Moore". lrl.state.tx.us. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
- ^ Mark Smith and Roy Bragg, "Caperton leaves his mark on state politics," Houston Chronicle, June 6, 1990, State section, pp. 1-2
- ^ "Bryan, Texas Political Contributions by Individuals". city-data.com. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
- ^ "Moore, W. Tyler, Jr". mojopages.com. Retrieved October 28, 2011.