53rd Texas Legislature

The 53rd Texas Legislature met from January 13, 1953, to May 27, 1953, and March 15, 1954, to April 13, 1954. All members present during this session were elected in the 1952 general elections.

Sessions

Regular Session: January 13, 1953 – May 27, 1953

Called Session: March 15, 1954 – April 13, 1954

Party summary

Senate

Affiliation		Members	Note
	Democratic Party	31
Total		31

House

Affiliation		Members	Note
	Democratic Party	149
	Independent	1
Total		150

Officers

Senate

• Lieutenant Governor: Ben Ramsey (D)
• President Pro Tempore: Rogers Kelley (D)
  Jimmy Phillips (D)
  Gus J. Strauss (D)
  Dorsey B. Hardeman (D)

House

• Speaker of the House: Reuben Senterfitt (D)

Members

Senate

Dist. 1

• Howard A. Carney (D), Atlanta

Dist. 2

• Wardlow Lane (D), Center

Dist. 3

• Ottis E. Lock (D), Lufkin

Dist. 4

• Jep Fuller (D), Port Arthur

Dist. 5

• Mrs. Neveille H. Colson (D), Navasota

Dist. 6

• James E. Taylor (D), Kerens

Dist. 7

• Warren McDonald (D), Tyler

Dist. 8

• George M. Parkhouse (D), Dallas

Dist. 9

• Joe Carter (D), Sherman

Dist. 10

• Doyle Willis (D), Fort Worth

Dist. 11

• William T. "Bill" Moore (D), Bryan

Dist. 12

• Crawford Martin (D), Hillsboro

Dist. 13

• Jarrard Secrest (D), Temple

Dist. 14

• Johnnie B. Rogers (D), Austin

Dist. 15

• Gus J. Strauss (D), Hallettsville

Dist. 16

• Searcy Bracewell (D), Houston

Dist. 17

• Jimmy Phillips (D), Angleton

Dist. 18

• John J. Bell (D), Cuero

Dist. 19

• Rudolph A. Weinert (D), Seguin

Dist. 20

• William H. Shireman (D), Corpus Christi

Dist. 21

• Abraham Kazen (D), Laredo

Dist. 22

• Wayne Wagonseller (D), Stoneburg

Dist. 23

• George Moffett (D), Chillicothe

Dist. 24

• Harley Sadler (D), Abilene

Dist. 25

• Dorsey B. Hardeman (D), San Angelo

Dist. 26

• Oswald Latimer (D), San Antonio

Dist. 27

• Rogers Kelly (D), Edinburg

Dist. 28

• Keith Kelly (D), Fort Worth

Dist. 29

• James T. Rutherford (D), Odessa

Dist. 30

• Andrew J. "Andy" Rogers (D), Childress

Dist. 31

• Grady Hazlewood (D), Amarillo

House

The House was composed of 149 Democrats and 1 Independent, Charles J. Lieck, Jr., elected as a member of the conservative Good Government League of San Antonio.

House members included future Governor Dolph Briscoe, future federal judge Barefoot Sanders and future Congressmen Kika de la Garza, Joe Kilgore, and Joe Pool, as well as future Texas Attorney General Waggoner Carr, and future Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jack Hightower.

Sources

• Legislative Reference Library of Texas, [1]

External links

• Texas Legislature Online
• Texas Senate
• Texas House of Representatives
• Election Results from the Office of the Secretary of State
• Legislative Reference Library