Chet Brooks
Full Name: Chester Edward "Chet" BrooksDate of birth: August 18, 1935
Date of death: May 11, 2016
Terms of Service
| Chamber | District | Dates of Service | Legislatures | Party | City/County | Note | Counties in District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 11 | Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993 | 72nd (1) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Dean of the Senate. (72nd) | Galveston, Harris |
| S | 11 | Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 8, 1991 | 71st 70th | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris |
Dean of the Senate. (71st)
Dean of the Senate. (70th) |
Galveston, Harris |
| S | 11 | Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 13, 1987 | 69th (2) (3) (4) 68th (5) (6) (7) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris |
Dean of the Senate. (69th)
Dean of the Senate. (68th) |
Galveston, Harris |
| S | 11 | Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 11, 1983 | 67th (8) (9) 66th | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Dean of the Senate. (67th) | Harris |
| S | 11 | Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 9, 1979 | 65th 64th | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Harris | |
| S | 11 | Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975 | 63rd (10) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Harris | |
| S | 7 | Jan 12, 1971 - Jan 9, 1973 | 62nd (11) (12) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Senate President Pro Tempore (62nd) | Harris |
| S | 7 | Jan 10, 1967 - Jan 12, 1971 | 61st 60th (13) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 22-12 | Jan 12, 1965 - Jan 10, 1967 | 59th (14) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 22-12 | Jan 8, 1963 - Jan 12, 1965 | 58th (15) | Democrat | Pasadena / Harris | Harris |
Terms of service footnotes
(1) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1992 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators. ↩
(2) Journal does not indicate who assumed title of Dean of the Senate during the regular session. However, Chet Brooks served as chair of the senate caucus, an honor traditionally bestowed upon the dean, pp. 4-6, 69th Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Journal. ↩
(3) Refers to Chet Brooks as 'Dean of the Senate,' 'The Ten Best and [Groan] the Ten Worst,' July 1985, Texas Monthly. ↩
(4) Brooks and Mauzy shared seniority during the 69th Legislature, Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002. ↩
(5) Journal refers to Chet Brooks as Dean of the Senate, p. 10, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. Senate Journal. ↩
(6) 68th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/17/1983, p. 495. Drew 4-year term (also see message from President, p. 467). Senate Journal. ↩
(7) Brooks and Mauzy shared seniority during the 68th Legislature, Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002. ↩
(8) 67th Legislature - Presentation of Deans of Senate, 1/13/1981, p. 8. [The Senate] selected 3 Members to serve as Deans of the Senate. Senator Brooks will serve the first 4 mos; Senator Mauzy the second 4 mos and Senator Snelson the last 4 mos of the year. Senate Journal. ↩
(9) Senators Brooks, Mauzy, and Snelson shared the title of dean. See the Senate Journal, 67th Legislature, Vol. I, p. 8. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002. ↩
(10) 63rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/10/1973, pp. 12-13. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(11) 62nd Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 3rd C.S., elected 6/14/1972. Senate Journal. ↩
(12) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1972 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators. ↩
(13) 60th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1967, p. 19. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(14) Sworn 11/23/1964. Oaths of Office. ↩
(15) Sworn 11/23/1962. Oaths of Office. ↩
Terms of Service
- Legislatures:
- 72nd (1)
- Leadership role:
-
Dean of the Senate. (72nd)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Galveston, Harris
- Legislatures:
- 71st 70th
- Leadership role:
-
Dean of the Senate. (71st)
Dean of the Senate. (70th)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Galveston, Harris
- Legislatures:
- 69th (2) (3) (4) 68th (5) (6) (7)
- Leadership role:
-
Dean of the Senate. (69th)
Dean of the Senate. (68th)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Galveston, Harris
- Legislatures:
- 67th (8) (9) 66th
- Leadership role:
-
Dean of the Senate. (67th)
(66th)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 65th 64th
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 63rd (10)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 62nd (11) (12)
- Leadership role:
-
Senate President Pro Tempore (62nd)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 61st 60th (13)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 59th (14)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 58th (15)
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Pasadena / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
Terms of service notes
(1) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1992 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators. ↩
(2) Journal does not indicate who assumed title of Dean of the Senate during the regular session. However, Chet Brooks served as chair of the senate caucus, an honor traditionally bestowed upon the dean, pp. 4-6, 69th Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Journal. ↩
(3) Refers to Chet Brooks as 'Dean of the Senate,' 'The Ten Best and [Groan] the Ten Worst,' July 1985, Texas Monthly. ↩
(4) Brooks and Mauzy shared seniority during the 69th Legislature, Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002. ↩
(5) Journal refers to Chet Brooks as Dean of the Senate, p. 10, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. Senate Journal. ↩
(6) 68th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 3/17/1983, p. 495. Drew 4-year term (also see message from President, p. 467). Senate Journal. ↩
(7) Brooks and Mauzy shared seniority during the 68th Legislature, Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002. ↩
(8) 67th Legislature - Presentation of Deans of Senate, 1/13/1981, p. 8. [The Senate] selected 3 Members to serve as Deans of the Senate. Senator Brooks will serve the first 4 mos; Senator Mauzy the second 4 mos and Senator Snelson the last 4 mos of the year. Senate Journal. ↩
(9) Senators Brooks, Mauzy, and Snelson shared the title of dean. See the Senate Journal, 67th Legislature, Vol. I, p. 8. Texas Senate, Secretary of the Senate - Memo, January 8, 2002, 'Deans of the Texas Senate', 2002. ↩
(10) 63rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/10/1973, pp. 12-13. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(11) 62nd Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 3rd C.S., elected 6/14/1972. Senate Journal. ↩
(12) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1972 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators. ↩
(13) 60th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/11/1967, p. 19. Drew 4-year term. Senate Journal. ↩
(14) Sworn 11/23/1964. Oaths of Office. ↩
(15) Sworn 11/23/1962. Oaths of Office. ↩
Biographical Information
- 69th Legislature, 2nd C.S., SR 12. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 72nd Legislature, 3rd C.S., SR 88. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 72nd Legislature, 4th C.S., SR 14. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 73rd Legislature, R.S., SR 195. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Senate Biographies, 63rd Legislature, 1973.
- Biographical sketch and photo. The Senators of Texas, 64th Session, 1975.
- Memorial biographical sketch and photo. Chester Edward Brooks. A State of Remembrance, 2017.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 66th Legislature, 1979.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 67th Legislature, 1981.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 68th Legislature, 1983.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 69th Legislature, 1985.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 70th Legislature, 1987.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 71st Legislature, 1989.
- Biographical sketch and photo. Texas Senate, 72nd Legislature, 1991.
- Chester Edward "Chet" Brooks. Texas State Cemetery.
- United States Navy. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.
- Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975. Selected newspaper articles
- Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1985.
- Awarded 'Best Single Performance'. Best and Worst Legislators 1983.
- Named 'Dishonorable Mention'. Best and Worst Legislators 1975.
- Named 'Honorable Mention'. Best and Worst Legislators 1973.
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 72nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 70th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 69th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 68th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 62nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 61st Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 60th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 59th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Chet Brooks, 58th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Henry Fletcher and Chet Brooks. Speaker's Day 2009. Photo courtesy of Brenda McKean, Donated Material
- 60th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 61st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 62nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 63rd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 64th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 65th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
- 66th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
- 67th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
- 68th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, west wall. GE.L1). State Preservation Board.
- 69th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 70th session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 71st session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 72nd session composite photo of Senate members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GE.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 58th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 59th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
Committee Information
Senate Committees
- Administration, Special (Vice Chair)
- Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special (Chair)
- Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special, Subcommittee on Congressional Districts
- Committee of the Whole on Redistricting, Special, Subcommittee on Legislative Districts
- Education
- Finance
- Health and Human Services (Chair)
- Health and Human Services, Interim
- Nominations, Special
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
- Administration, Special (Vice Chair)
- Committee of the Whole Senate
- Education
- Finance
- Health and Human Services (Chair)
- Legislative Redistricting, Select
- Nominations, Special
- Public Education, Select
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
- Administration, Special (Vice Chair)
- Committee of the Whole Senate
- Education
- Finance
- Health and Human Services (Chair)
- Medicaid and Family Services, Select
- Nominations, Special
- Rules, Special
Joint Committees
- Future of Long Term Health Care, Special Task Force (Vice Chair)
- Health Care Reimbursement Alternatives, Commission on
- Rural Health Care Delivery, Special Task Force
- Steering Committee to Develop a Texas Office of Prevention
- Substance Abuse Treatment Delivery
- Waste Management Policy, Task Force on (Chair)
Senate Committees
- Administration, Special
- Coastline Rehabilitation, Interim (Chair)
- Committee of the Whole Senate
- Finance
- Health and Human Resources (Chair)
- Nominations, Special
- State Affairs
- State Affairs Subcommittee on Elections
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
- Committee of the Whole Senate
- Committee of the Whole Senate, Subcommittee on Finance
- Finance
- Health and Human Resources (Chair)
- Human Resources (Chair)
- Rules, Special
- State Affairs
- State Affairs Subcommittee on Nominations
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
- Finance
- Human Resources (Chair)
- New Federalism, Task Force
- Redistricting, Subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole Senate, Special
- Redistricting, Subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole Senate, Special Congressional Panel
- State Affairs
- State Affairs Subcommittee on Nominations
Joint Committees
- Autism (Chair)
Senate Committees
- Delivery of Human Services in Texas (Vice Chair)
- Delivery of Human Services in Texas Subcommittee on Funding Patterns (Chair)
- Delivery of Human Services in Texas Subcommittee on Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services
- Delivery of Human Services in Texas Subcommittee on Services for 65 and Over Age Group (Chair)
- Finance
- Finance Interim Subcommittee on Juvenile Crime
- Human Resources (Chair)
- State Affairs
- State Affairs Subcommittee on Uniform Group Insurance for Public School Teachers and Employees
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
- Finance
- Human Resources (Chair)
- Special Districts, Special (Chair)
- State Affairs
Joint Committees
- Prison Reform (Chair)
Senate Committees
- Banking (Vice Chair)
- County, District and Urban Affairs
- Education
- Finance
- Horse Racing and Pari-mutuel Betting, Interim
- Human Resources (Vice Chair)
- Insurance
- Natural Resources
- Nominations
- Occupational Education, Interim
- Parks and Wildlife
- Privileges and Elections
- Public Health
- Public School Finance, Interim
- Special Districts (Chair)
- State Departments and Institutions (Chair)
- Transportation
Senate Committees
- Agriculture and Livestock
- Banking (Vice Chair)
- County, District, and Urban Affairs
- Insurance
- Legislative, Congressional, and Judicial Districts
- Liquor Laws
- Motion Picture Theater Industry
- Parks and Wildlife
- Public Health
- Rules
- Rules of the Senate
- State Departments and Institutions (Chair)
- Transportation
- Vocational-Technical Education (Chair)
- Youth Affairs
Joint Committees
Senate Committees
- Banking
- Counties, Cities, and Towns
- Finance
- Game and Fish
- Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts (Vice Chair)
- State Departments and Institutions
- Transportation
- Vocational-Technical Education (Chair)
Joint Committees
House Committees
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.