Gib Lewis

Gibson Donald Lewis, known as Gib Lewis (born August 22, 1936), is an American politician and political consultant from Fort Worth, Texas. He was the first person to be elected five times as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a plea bargain agreement connected with his misdemeanor conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.[1]

Gibson Donald "Gib" Lewis
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
1983–1993
Preceded byBill W. Clayton
Succeeded byPete Laney
Member of the
Texas House of Representatives
from Tarrant County
In office
1971–1993
Preceded byRobert M. Burnett
Succeeded byHomer Dear (District 89)
Personal details
Born (1936-08-22) August 22, 1936
Oletha, Texas
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Sandra Majors Lewis
Children2
Alma materTexas Christian University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1957–1961

Early life and education

Lewis was born in Oletha in Limestone County and raised in Mexia, Texas and Cleveland, Texas, where he graduated in 1955 from Cleveland High School. He then enrolled at Sam Houston State College. Lewis later enlisted in the United States Air Force and went on to serve as a B-52 aerial gunner. While stationed at Carswell Air Force Base, he continued his studies at Texas Christian University.

Career

Lewis was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1961.[2] He then took a job as a salesman for a paper company and three years later, opened his own firm specializing in pressure-sensitive labels and decals. It grew into a multimillion-dollar business. Lewis continues as president of Lewis Label Products, Inc., today, three decades after its founding.[3]

Since leaving the state legislature, he has lobbied state government on behalf of private clients.[1][4]

He is the namesake of the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and the Gib Lewis Prison Unit in Woodville, Texas.

Politics

Lewis was elected Speaker in 1983 to succeed Bill W. Clayton of Springlake, Lamb County. He was a key figure in passing the 1984 education act, designed by Ross Perot and Democratic Governor Mark White, hailed at the time as one of the most sweeping public education reforms in Texas history. He was instrumental in the passage of the 1985 comprehensive Texas Water Plan. He later promoted legislation to combat crime, including stricter laws against drunk drivers. An avid sportsman, Lewis carried legislation creating the "Operation Game Thief" program and was a sponsor of the Uniform Game Management Act.[4][5]

In 1969, Lewis was elected to the River Oaks City Council. He arrived the next year in Fort Worth, the county seat of Tarrant County.[4]

In 1970, Lewis was elected to the House from Tarrant County. In 1973, he was named chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. In 1977, he chaired the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.

Criminal activity

Conviction on ethics charges

In January 1992, Lewis pleaded no contest to two charges alleging that he illegally accepted a gift from a prominent law firm in San Antonio, Texas, and failed to disclose the money on official financial reports filed with the state. As part of a plea bargain, Lewis agreed to not seek reelection and to pay a fine of $1,000 for each charge.[1][6]

DWI arrest

In June 2009, Lewis was arrested in the capital city of Austin, on probable cause of driving while intoxicated. His breathalyzer test indicated a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.16 g/dl, twice the legal limit in Texas, and over three times the "best practices" limit recommended by the World Health Organization.[7][8]

Personal life

Lewis is married to the former Sandra Majors. They have two daughters.[1]

References
  1. "Gib Lewis Biography". Texas House Speakers Oral History. The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  2. http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/1999/April%201999/0499famous.pdf
  3. "Texas Politics - Speakers of the House: Gibson D. Lewis". Texaspolitics.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
  4. Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council (February 2002). Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846–2002 (PDF) (Revised 2002 ed.). Austin, Texas: The Council. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  5. "Lewis backs license suspension for DWI". Austin American-Statesman. February 15, 1991. p. B3.
  6. Kuempel, George (January 23, 1992). "Lewis pleads no contest to 2 ethics accusations - Speaker fined $2,000, spared jail time". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  7. Fikac, Peggy (June 26, 2009). "Austin Police: Former House Speaker Gib Lewis arrested for DWI". mySA. San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  8. Global status report on road safety: time for action. World Health Organization. 2009. p. 22. ISBN 978-92-4-156384-0. Retrieved 2009-06-26. [B]lood alcohol concentration, or the equivalent breath alcohol content limits, … should be 0.05 g/dl or below
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Robert M. “Bob" Burnett		 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 52-4 (Fort Worth)
1971–1973		 Succeeded by
Obsolete district
Preceded by
Obsolete district		 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 32-4 (Fort Worth)
1973–1977		 Succeeded by
Obsolete district
Preceded by
Obsolete district		 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 32-E (Fort Worth)
1977–1979		 Succeeded by
Charles Evans
Preceded by
Roy English		 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 32-G (Fort Worth)
1979–1983		 Succeeded by
Obsolete district
Preceded by
Senfronia Thompson		 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 89 (Fort Worth)
1983–1993		 Succeeded by
Homer Dear
Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Clayton		 Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
1983-1993		 Succeeded by
Pete Laney
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