Robert Gammage
Encyclopedia
Robert Alton "Bob" Gammage (born March 13, 1938) is a politician
from the U.S. state
of Texas
, having served as a Democrat
in the Texas House of Representatives
, the Texas State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives
.
Gammage was born in Houston
and attended Milby High School
there. He holds degrees from Del Mar College and the University of Corpus Christi. He holds a masters degree from Sam Houston State University
and a Juris Doctor
from the University of Texas at Austin
. He also earned an LLM from the University of Virginia
School of Law.
Before Gammage entered politics, he served in the United States Army and the United States Navy. He retired as a Captain in the United States Navy Reserve
. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he served at several different colleges, including the University of Corpus Christi, San Jacinto College and South Texas College of Law. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he taught at Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas State University, and Saint Edwards University.
Gammage served in the Texas House of Representatives
from 1971 to 1973. Gammage was a member of the so-called "Dirty 30," a bipartisan group of legislators that pushed for reform in the wake of the Sharpstown scandal
in the 1970s. Gammage was a member of the Texas State Senate from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, he was elected to the 95th Congress, defeating Republican incumbent Ron Paul
and served from 1977 until 1979, losing to Paul in the 1978 election. He then served as assistant attorney general of Texas from 1979 to 1980, and as a special consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy in 1980.
In 1982, Gammage was elected as a justice to the Texas Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas
and served in that position until 1991. He was then elected to the Texas Supreme Court
where he served from 1991 until 1995. In 2006, Gammage lost the Texas gubernatorial Democratic primary election to former U.S. Representative Chris Bell
.
Gammage currently practices law and serves as an arbitrator, mediator and consultant.
On May 27, 2008, Gammage delivered the funeral eulogy
for his former "Dirty Thirty" colleague Joseph Hugh Allen
, a former representative from Baytown
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
, having 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...
, the Texas State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Gammage was born in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and attended Milby High School
Milby High School
Charles H. Milby High School is a public secondary school located at 1601 Broadway in the East End, Houston, Texas with a ZIP code of 77012. Milby, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Houston Independent School District....
there. He holds degrees from Del Mar College and the University of Corpus Christi. He holds a masters degree from Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He also earned an LLM 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...
School of Law.
Before Gammage entered politics, he served in the United States Army and the United States Navy. He retired as a Captain in the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he served at several different colleges, including the University of Corpus Christi, San Jacinto College and South Texas College of Law. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he taught at Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas State University, and Saint Edwards University.
Gammage served 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 1971 to 1973. Gammage was a member of the so-called "Dirty 30," a bipartisan group of legislators that pushed for reform in the wake of the Sharpstown scandal
Sharpstown scandal
The Sharpstown scandal was a stock fraud scandal in the state of Texas in 1971 and 1972 involving the highest levels of the state government. The name came from the involvement of the Sharpstown area of Houston.-Background:...
in the 1970s. Gammage was a member of the Texas State Senate from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, he was elected to the 95th Congress, defeating Republican incumbent Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
and served from 1977 until 1979, losing to Paul in the 1978 election. He then served as assistant attorney general of Texas from 1979 to 1980, and as a special consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy in 1980.
In 1982, Gammage was elected as a justice to the Texas Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas
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...
and served in that position until 1991. He was then 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...
where he served from 1991 until 1995. In 2006, Gammage lost the Texas gubernatorial Democratic primary election to former U.S. Representative Chris Bell
Chris Bell (politician)
Robert Christopher "Chris" Bell is a Democratic Party politician. He last served as a one-term congressman in the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 25th congressional district in Houston from 2003 to 2005 before being defeated in the Democratic primary by Justice of the Peace Al...
.
Gammage currently practices law and serves as an arbitrator, mediator and consultant.
On May 27, 2008, Gammage delivered the funeral eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
for his former "Dirty Thirty" colleague Joseph Hugh Allen
Joseph Hugh Allen
Joseph Hugh Allen was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from the industrial city of Baytown, who fought for ethics reform...
, a former representative from Baytown
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
.
Texas House Bills and House Joint Resolutions written by Gammage
1971- HB 249, Relating to the regulation of practice used in the collection of debts,
- HB 250, Relating to the awarding of attorney's fees in any civil action in which the court finds that equity would be served by the award,
- HB 251, Removing insurance companies from coverage exemption,
- HB 307, Relating to the definition of deceptive trade practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce,
- HB 592 Providing for the compensation to the county attorneys in certain counties,
- HB 711, Creating two family district courts for Harris County,
- HB 921, Relating to an accused's right to an examining trial before an indictment,
- HB 1356, Relating to the casting of contempt upon flags of the United States,
- HB 1357, Relating to the jurisdiction of the municipal courts of Texas and to the punishment for certain misdemeanor offenses,
- HB 1359, Relating to the abolition of the Parks and Wildlife Department and the transfer of the powers, duties, and functions to tow newly established agencies,
- HB 1660, Relating to the creation and jurisdiction of municipal courts in certain cities and the election of municipal judges,
- HB 1661, Creating the La Porte Utility District,
- HB 1743, Creating Sagemeadow Utility District,
- HB 1801, Relating to the registration and filing of financial statements by persons engaged in representations before the Legislature and state agencies,
- HB 1843, Relating to the pay of election judges and clerks,
- HB 1857, Relating to the assignment of certain retired district judges to sit in certain courts,
- HJR 76, Reducing the minimum service requirement for eligibility under the teacher retirement system from ten years to five years.