Jack English Hightower
Encyclopedia
Jack English Hightower is a former Democratic
U.S. representative from Texas
. Born in Memphis
, the seat of Hall County in west Texas, Hightower received a bachelor of arts
degree from Baylor University
in Waco
in 1949, an LL.B. from Baylor Law School
in 1951, and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia
in Charlottesville
, in 1992. He was admitted to the Texas bar
in 1951 and served in the United States Navy
from 1944 to 1946; he was district attorney
of the Forty-sixth Texas Judicial District from 1951 to 1961, and was a member of the Texas House of Representatives
from 1953 to 1955.
Hightower was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 1961, and was a member of the Texas Senate
from 1965 to 1974. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1968, and was elected to the Ninety-fourth and to the four succeeding Congresses, having served from January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1985. In the year of Watergate, Hightower unseated the conservative
Republican
Representative Robert "Bob" Price of Pampa
, the seat of Gray County.
Hightower was a fairly liberal Democrat, which seemingly made him an odd fit for the 13th, a monstrous and mostly rural district stretching from Amarillo to Wichita Falls. The district had become increasingly friendly to Republicans at the national level, though Democrats continued to hold most local offices well into the 1990s. However, he managed to win four more times, largely by working this rural district well. However, in 1984, he was toppled by Republican challenger Beau Boulter
of Amarillo, largely due to Ronald Reagan
's massive landslide that year.
He was the first assistant attorney general
of Texas under Attorney General James Albon "Jim" Mattox
from 1985 to 1987. Hightower was elected to the Texas Supreme Court
(1988; 1992–1995) and appointed to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
by President Bill Clinton
, having served from August 9, 1999–July 19, 2004.
He is a resident of Austin
. He and his wife, Colleen, have three daughters: Ann, Amy, and Allison. He is also the grandfather of Super Bowl XLIV MVP Quarterback Drew Brees
.
, AF&AM in 1972. He is a member of Vernon Lodge #655. As of July, 2008, he is the oldest living Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. representative from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Born in Memphis
Memphis, Texas
Memphis is a city in Hall County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 2,479. It is the county seat of Hall County.Memphis is the birthplace of former U.S...
, the seat of Hall County in west Texas, Hightower received a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
in 1949, an LL.B. from Baylor Law School
Baylor Law School
Founded in 1857, Baylor Law School is the oldest law school in Texas and has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1931 and a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1938. Baylor Law School is affiliated with Baylor University and located in Waco, Texas...
in 1951, and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, in 1992. He was admitted to the Texas bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1951 and served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1944 to 1946; he was district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of the Forty-sixth Texas Judicial District from 1951 to 1961, and was a member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from 1953 to 1955.
Hightower was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 1961, and was a member of the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
from 1965 to 1974. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1968, and was elected to the Ninety-fourth and to the four succeeding Congresses, having served from January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1985. In the year of Watergate, Hightower unseated the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Representative Robert "Bob" Price of Pampa
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
, the seat of Gray County.
Hightower was a fairly liberal Democrat, which seemingly made him an odd fit for the 13th, a monstrous and mostly rural district stretching from Amarillo to Wichita Falls. The district had become increasingly friendly to Republicans at the national level, though Democrats continued to hold most local offices well into the 1990s. However, he managed to win four more times, largely by working this rural district well. However, in 1984, he was toppled by Republican challenger Beau Boulter
Beau Boulter
Eldon Beau Boulter is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist who was a Republican U.S. representative from Texas between 1985 and 1989....
of Amarillo, largely due to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's massive landslide that year.
He was the first assistant attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Texas under Attorney General James Albon "Jim" Mattox
Jim Mattox
James Albon Mattox was a Dallas lawyer and Texas Democratic politician who served three terms in the United States House of Representatives and two four-year terms as state Attorney General, but lost high profile races for Governor in 1990, the U.S. Senate in 1994, and again as attorney general...
from 1985 to 1987. Hightower was elected to the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
(1988; 1992–1995) and appointed to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science was an agency in the United States government between 1970 and 2008. The activities of the Commission were consolidated into the Institute of Museum and Library Services.-Origins:...
by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, having served from August 9, 1999–July 19, 2004.
He is a resident of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He and his wife, Colleen, have three daughters: Ann, Amy, and Allison. He is also the grandfather of Super Bowl XLIV MVP Quarterback Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
.
Fraternity
Jack Hightower is a freemason, and served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of TexasGrand Lodge of Texas
The Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons is the largest of several governing bodies of Freemasonry in the State of Texas, being solely of the Ancients' tradition and descending from the Ancient Grand Lodge of England, founded in 1751. It was originally founded as "The Grand Lodge...
, AF&AM in 1972. He is a member of Vernon Lodge #655. As of July, 2008, he is the oldest living Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas.