Randy Pendleton
Encyclopedia
Randall George Pendleton, known as Randy Pendleton (March 15, 1937 – October 4, 2009), was a business
man from Andrews
, Texas
, and later a lobbyist in Austin
, who served as a Democrat
in the Texas House of Representatives
from 1961–1969.
Pendleton was born to George H. Pendleton (1908–1993) and the former Beatrice D. Nelson (1912–1976) in Wellman
in Terry County, Texas. He attended public schools in Andrews and graduated from Texas Tech University
in Lubbock
. He was elected to the House in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1968, but he resigned in 1969 to accept appointment from Governor
Preston E. Smith
as the Director of State and Federal Relations in Washington, D.C.
Pendleton was also a deputy commissioner for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. He served as executive assistant to the commissioner of the Board of Public Welfare. He was a lobbyist for the Beneficial Corporation
and in that capacity worked for passage of the November 4, 1997 state constitutional amendment allowing home-equity lending in Texas. Pendleton was a board member of the Austin Club.
Pendleton served in District 73 from 1967–1969; in District 75, 1961–1966. He tendered his resignation to accept the appointment in Washington, effective June 30, 1969. E L Short
, a rancher, farmer
, and businessman from Tahoka
, the seat of Lynn County, won the special runoff election on August 8, 1969. Short held the seat for nearly a decade, having vacated it in January 1979 to serve a single term in the Texas State Senate.
In 1972, Pendleton returned to the political arena to run, unsuccessfully, against the long-term incumbent Robert S. Calvert
for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
. Pendleton accused Calvert of having mishandled sales tax
collections, a situation which led to declining state revenues. Two years later, Calvert withdrew from the Democratic primary when faced with the strong challenge of Bob Bullock
, a former Texas Secretary of State who would serve as comptroller from 1975–1991, when he became Lieutenant Governor of Texas
.
Pendleton died in Austin, where he had resided after his political career had ended. He was survived by his wife of fifty-two years, the former Frances Ann Guillet (born 1936). Her mother was Bernice Guillet (1908–1997). Her father, Henry F. Guillet (1908–1985) was a former county attorney
of Andrews County. There are three Pendleton daughters, Kathryn Ann Winter, Alisa Karen Hudson, and Kristina Kay O'Connor. Services were held at Hyde Park Baptist
Church, 3901 Speedway in Austin. Interment was at the Texas State Cemetery
, a prerogative for all Texas legislators and their spouses.
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man from Andrews
Andrews, Texas
Andrews is a city in and the county seat of Andrews County in the U.S. state of Texas within the West Texas region. The population was 10,448 in 2009. Along with Midland and Odessa, these cities form the Midland-Odessa Combined Statistical Area with a population of 241,316 in four counties...
, 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...
, and later a lobbyist in 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...
, who served as a Democrat
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...
in 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 1961–1969.
Pendleton was born to George H. Pendleton (1908–1993) and the former Beatrice D. Nelson (1912–1976) in Wellman
Wellman, Texas
Wellman is a city in Terry County, Texas, United States. The population was 203 at the 2000 census.-Notable people:*Donald Kent Davis was a farmer and auctioneer who served as mayor of Wellman from 2003 until his death from ALS at the age of fifty-eight...
in Terry County, Texas. He attended public schools in Andrews and graduated from Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. He was elected to the House in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1968, but he resigned in 1969 to accept appointment from Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Preston E. Smith
Preston Smith (Texas)
Preston Earnest Smith was the 40th Governor of Texas from 1969 to 1973, who earlier served as the lieutenant governor from 1963 to 1969.-Early life:...
as the Director of State and Federal Relations in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Pendleton was also a deputy commissioner for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. He served as executive assistant to the commissioner of the Board of Public Welfare. He was a lobbyist for the Beneficial Corporation
Beneficial corporation
Beneficial Corporation was one of the largest consumer finance companies in the United States, prior to its acquisition by Household International, Inc. in 1998. Beneficial began as the Beneficial Loan Society in 1914 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, founded by “Colonel” Clarence Hodson. The company was...
and in that capacity worked for passage of the November 4, 1997 state constitutional amendment allowing home-equity lending in Texas. Pendleton was a board member of the Austin Club.
Pendleton served in District 73 from 1967–1969; in District 75, 1961–1966. He tendered his resignation to accept the appointment in Washington, effective June 30, 1969. E L Short
E L Short
E L Short is a farmer, rancher, and businessman from Tahoka in Lynn County, Texas, who is a former Democratic member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature.-Background:...
, a rancher, farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, and businessman from Tahoka
Tahoka, Texas
Tahoka is a city in and the county seat of Lynn County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,910 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tahoka is located at ....
, the seat of Lynn County, won the special runoff election on August 8, 1969. Short held the seat for nearly a decade, having vacated it in January 1979 to serve a single term in the Texas State Senate.
In 1972, Pendleton returned to the political arena to run, unsuccessfully, against the long-term incumbent Robert S. Calvert
Robert S. Calvert
For the Texas historian, see Robert A. Calvert.Robert S. Calvert was the longest-serving Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, having held that post from 1949 - 1975....
for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is an executive branch position created by the Texas Constitution. As with nearly every other executive branch head, the Comptroller is popularly elected every four years concurrently with the Governor and the other elected executive branch positions...
. Pendleton accused Calvert of having mishandled sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
collections, a situation which led to declining state revenues. Two years later, Calvert withdrew from the Democratic primary when faced with the strong challenge of Bob Bullock
Bob Bullock
Robert Douglas Bullock, known as Bob Bullock , was a Democratic politician from Texas, whose career spanned four decades. His service culminated in his term as Lieutenant Governor of Texas from January 15, 1991–January 19, 1999 during the terms of Governors Ann Richards and George W...
, a former Texas Secretary of State who would serve as comptroller from 1975–1991, when he became Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas, a state in the U.S. It is the second most powerful post in Texas government because its occupant controls the work of the Texas Senate and controls the budgeting process as a leader of the...
.
Pendleton died in Austin, where he had resided after his political career had ended. He was survived by his wife of fifty-two years, the former Frances Ann Guillet (born 1936). Her mother was Bernice Guillet (1908–1997). Her father, Henry F. Guillet (1908–1985) was a former county attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
of Andrews County. There are three Pendleton daughters, Kathryn Ann Winter, Alisa Karen Hudson, and Kristina Kay O'Connor. Services were held at Hyde Park Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church, 3901 Speedway in Austin. Interment was at the Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
, a prerogative for all Texas legislators and their spouses.