Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	15	Jan 12, 1943 - Jan 14, 1947	48th (2)   49th (1)	Democrat	La Grange / Fayette		Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, Waller
S	15	Jan 10, 1939 - Jan 12, 1943	46th (7)   47th (3) (4) (5) (6)	Democrat	La Grange / Fayette		Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, Waller
S	15	Jan 8, 1935 - Jan 10, 1939	44th (9)   45th (8)	Democrat	La Grange / Fayette		Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lavaca, Waller

(1) Although Senator Shivers shared seniority with Senators [Weaver] Moore and Sulak, the Senate Journal records the election of Senator Shivers as dean. See the Senate Journal, 49th Legislature, p. 9. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(2) Although Cotten shared seniority with Senators [Weaver] Moore, Shivers, and Sulak, a statement in the Senate Journal indicates that Senator Cotten was chosen dean. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(3) Caucus report for 47th Legislature, 1st called session signed, Olan R. Van Zandt, Dean of the Senate, p. 10, Senate Journal.
(4) Journal does not indicate who assumed title of Dean of the Senate during the regular session. However, Olan Van Zandt served as chair of the senate caucus, an honor traditionally bestowed upon the dean, pp. 9-11. Senate Journal.
(5) Journal does not confirm who assumed the title of dean during the regular session of the 47th legislature; however, Senator Van Zandt was chairman of the senate caucus, a honor traditionally bestowed on the dean of the senate. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(6) Lists Cotten, Hill, Weaver Moore, Shivers, Sulak, and Van Zandt as having most seniority, 47th Legislature. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002.
(7) 46th Legislature - Roll Call of Senators-Elect, oath of office administered, 1/10/1939, p. 8. Senate Journal.
(8) 45th Legislature - Roll Call of Senators, holdover Senators "who were Members of the Forty-fourth Legislature and whose terms of office continue for the duration of the Forty-fifth Legislature," 1/12/1937, pp. 1-2. Senate Journal.
(9) 44th Legislature - Roll Call of New Senators and Certificate of New Senators, oath of office administered, 1/8/1935, p. 1. Senate Journal.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Selected Newspaper articles

Biographical Sketches

• "Sen. Sulak's Wide Experience Stamps Him as Outstanding Man," 1/21/1941. Birth date 8/4/1895. Austin American-Statesman.

Other Resources

• Louis J. Sulak, birth date 8/4/1885, death date 9/10/1967, burial in La Grange Cemetery, La Grange, Fayette County. Find a Grave.
• Occupational and biographical information - 45th Legislature, Chapter 1, "The Big Job," pp. 1-17. The Legislature and the Texas People, 1937.

Photographs

• Photograph. L.J. Sulak, 49th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. L.J. Sulak, 48th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. L.J. Sulak, 47th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. L.J. Sulak, 46th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. L.J. Sulak, 45th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. L.J. Sulak, 44th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 44th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 45th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 46th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 47th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 48th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 49th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

49th R.S. - 1945 Agriculture (Chair)  Commerce and Manufacturing   Congressional Districts   Constitutional Amendments   Contingent Expense   Education   Finance   Highways and Motor Traffic   Insurance   Interstate Cooperation (Chair)  Nominations of the Governor   Penitentiaries   Public Buildings and Grounds   Public Health (Chair)  Public Printing (Vice Chair)  Representative Districts   Senatorial Districts   State Institutions and Departments

48th R.S. - 1943 Agricultural Affairs (Vice Chair)  Commerce and Manufacturing   Congressional Districts (Vice Chair)  Constitutional Amendments   Finance   Highways and Motor Traffic   Insurance   Privileges and Elections (Vice Chair)  Public Buildings and Grounds (Vice Chair)  Public Debts, Claims and Accounts   Public Health (Chair)  Public Printing (Chair)  State Affairs   Towns and City Corporations

47th R.S. - 1941 Agricultural Conditions, Special   Agriculture (Vice Chair)  Commerce and Manufactures   Congressional Districts   Constitutional Amendments   Finance   Insurance   Labor   Public Buildings and Grounds   Public Health (Chair)  Public Printing (Chair)  Towns and City Corporations

46th R.S. - 1939 Agriculture (Chair)  Commerce and Manufacturing   Congressional Districts   Constitutional Amendments   Highways and Motor Traffic   Insurance   Labor   Penitentiaries   Public Printing (Chair)  Senatorial Districts (Vice Chair)  State Affairs

45th R.S. - 1937 Agricultural Affairs   Commerce and Manufactures   Finance   Game and Fish   Labor   Public Printing (Chair)  Rules (Vice Chair)  Senatorial Districts (Chair)  State Affairs   State Highways and Motor Traffic   State Penitentiaries

44th R.S. - 1935 Agricultural Affairs (Vice Chair)  Commerce and Manufacturing   Congressional Districts   Constitutional Amendments   Finance   Game and Fish   Insurance   Labor   Public Printing (Chair)  Senatorial Districts   State Affairs   State Highways and Motor Traffic   State Penitentiaries