Legislative library home page
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research
Criss Cole

Criss Cole

Full Name: Criss Cole
Date of birth: May 11, 1918
Date of death: June 21, 1985

Terms of Service

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 6 Jan 10, 1967 - Jan 12, 1971 61st (1)   60th (2)   Democrat Houston / Harris Senate President Pro Tempore (61st)   Harris
S 6 Jan 8, 1963 - Jan 10, 1967 59th   58th (3)   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
H 22-7 Jan 10, 1961 - Jan 8, 1963 57th   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
H 22-7 Jan 13, 1959 - Jan 10, 1961 56th   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
H 22-7 Jan 8, 1957 - Jan 13, 1959 55th   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
H 22-7 Jan 11, 1955 - Jan 8, 1957 54th   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris

Terms of service footnotes


(1) 61st Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim 2nd C.S., elected 9/9/1969. Senate Journal. ↩
(2) 60th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1967, p. 19. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(3) 58th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/9/1963, p. 16. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩

Terms of Service

Legislatures:
61st (1)   60th (2)  
Leadership role:
Senate President Pro Tempore (61st)
(60th)
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Houston / Harris
Counties in district:
Harris

Legislatures:
59th   58th (3)  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Houston / Harris
Counties in district:
Harris

Legislatures:
57th  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Houston / Harris
Counties in district:
Harris

Legislatures:
56th  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Houston / Harris
Counties in district:
Harris

Legislatures:
55th  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Houston / Harris
Counties in district:
Harris

Legislatures:
54th  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Houston / Harris
Counties in district:
Harris

Terms of service notes


(1) 61st Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, Ad Interim 2nd C.S., elected 9/9/1969. Senate Journal. ↩
(2) 60th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1967, p. 19. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(3) 58th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/9/1963, p. 16. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩

Biographical Information

  • United States Marine Corps, Corporal, World War II. Military grave marker, Criss Cole, birth date 5/11/1918, death date 6/21/1985, burial in Houston National Cemetery. Find a Grave.
  • United States Marine Corps, Corporal, World War II. "He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps near Golden, Colorado, before joining the United States Marines in 1940. He served in Iceland, New Zealand, and Guadalcanal. As a corporal, he was blinded in 1943 during a beach attack at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands by a Japanese grenade, an injury for which he was later awarded a Purple Heart." Handbook of Texas Online.
  • United States Marine Corps, World War II. 59th Legislature, R.S., SR 713, relating to session honoring Senator Criss Cole as outstanding disabled veteran for the State of Texas for 1965, "in tribute to his (Cole's) exceptional ability, his tenacity in overcoming the great handicap of blindness, which resulted from his heroic service as a member of the U.S. Marines, when he was wounded by a Japanese hand grenade during a mission on Tarawa . . . This veteran of service in Iceland, New Zealand, Guadalcanal and Tarawa, during World War II, is beloved by his fellow members of the Texas Legislature . . . ," Senate Journal, p. 1491; presentation and address by Roy Porter of Disabled American Veterans describes Cole's military service and mentions Purple Heart, Senate Journal, pp. 1565-1567. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary
  • United States Marine Corps. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

  • Article, "King Miller Would Be Second Legally Blind Lawmaker in 30 Years if Elected," 10/28/2004. Midland Reporter-Telegram.
    • Selected newspaper articles

  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 61st Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 60th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 59th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 58th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 57th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 56th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 56th Legislature, Texas Yearbook, 56th Legislature
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 55th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. Criss Cole, 54th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Committee Information

This website is a work in progress. Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

Party information is not available for the 1st-11th Legislatures.

Have a question, comment or contribution? Email the Library or call 512-463-1252.

Many photos in Texas Legislators: Past and Present are used with permission of the Texas State Preservation Board. For permission to reproduce these photos, please contact the Texas State Preservation Board graphics coordinator at 512-475-3060.