Searcy Bracewell

Searcy Bracewell

Full Name: Joseph Searcy Bracewell, Jr.
Date of birth: January 19, 1918
Date of death: May 13, 2003

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 6 Jan 11, 1955 - Jan 13, 1959 55th (1)   54th   55th (1)   Democrat Houston / Harris Senate President Pro Tempore (55th)   Harris
S 6 Jan 13, 1953 - Jan 11, 1955 53rd (2)   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
S 16 Jan 9, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953 52nd (3)   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
S 16 Jan 11, 1949 - Jan 9, 1951 51st (4)   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris
H 19-3 Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 11, 1949 50th   Democrat Houston / Harris   Harris

(1) 55th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 1st C.S., elected 10/14/1957; and Ad Interim 1st C.S., elected 11/12/1957. Senate Journal.
(2) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(3) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1952 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(4) In Senate, Maribelle (Mrs. W. Lacy) Stewart, in special election 4/19/1947, sworn 4/23/1947, succeeded to unexpired term of W. Lacy Stewart, died 3/22/1947. She resigned 12/3/1948, and was succeeded for unexpired term in special election 1/9/1949, by J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr., sworn 1/11/1949. In House, Carlton Moore, Sr., in special election 1/8/1949, sworn 1/11/1949, succeeded J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr., resigned 12/9/1948. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 6
Jan 11, 1955 - Jan 13, 1959
Legislatures: 55th (1)   54th   55th (1)  
Senate President Pro Tempore (55th)
(55th)
(55th)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
Senate District 6
Jan 13, 1953 - Jan 11, 1955
Legislatures: 53rd (2)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
Senate District 16
Jan 9, 1951 - Jan 13, 1953
Legislatures: 52nd (3)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
Senate District 16
Jan 11, 1949 - Jan 9, 1951
Legislatures: 51st (4)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
House District 19-3
Jan 14, 1947 - Jan 11, 1949
Legislatures: 50th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

(1) 55th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, 1st C.S., elected 10/14/1957; and Ad Interim 1st C.S., elected 11/12/1957. Senate Journal.
(2) 53rd Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/14/1953, pp. 16-17. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(3) 2-year term; entire Senate went up for reelection in 1952 due to redistricting. Texas Constitution Art. III, §3, Election and term of office of Senators.
(4) In Senate, Maribelle (Mrs. W. Lacy) Stewart, in special election 4/19/1947, sworn 4/23/1947, succeeded to unexpired term of W. Lacy Stewart, died 3/22/1947. She resigned 12/3/1948, and was succeeded for unexpired term in special election 1/9/1949, by J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr., sworn 1/11/1949. In House, Carlton Moore, Sr., in special election 1/8/1949, sworn 1/11/1949, succeeded J. Searcy Bracewell, Jr., resigned 12/9/1948. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

Biographical Sketches

  • Memorial biographical sketch and photo. A State of Remembrance, 2005.
  • Memorial, July 2003, p. 624. Texas Bar Journal.

Military Service Notes

  • United States Army, Major, World War II. "As a former Texas A&M Cadet, Searcy Bracewell was called to active duty as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1941. After an initial assignment as a cavalry officer at Fort Clark, he shipped out to England in 1943 to join the forces gathering for the invasion of Europe. He was assigned to a position as Assistant G-4 on the staff of Gen. George Patton's Third Army, where he served until the end of the war. He was awarded the European Theater Medal with five battle stars and was honorably discharged as a major in 1945." Memorials, Searcy Bracewell, Jr.
    "From 1941-45 he served in the U.S. Army, with two and a half years spent overseas during World War II. He served in World War II as a member of Gen. George Patton's staff in charge of supplies and evacuation." "Searcy Bracewell, Founding Partner of Bracewell & Patterson, Dies 5/15/03." Joseph Marion Bracewell Genealogy and Family History.
  • United States Army, Major. "During World War II he served on the staff of General George Patton's Third Army; he left the service with the rank of major in 1945." A State of Remembrance, 2005.
  • United States Army. Photo and salute. With Honor and Gratitude: A Special Thank You to Our Texas Senate Members Who Served Our Country, 2017.

Other Resources

Photographs

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

Committee Information top

55th R.S. - 1957
Aged Citizens  
Archives, Texas Employment Commission, and Insurance Buildings  
Banking  
Constitutional Amendments  
Counties, Cities and Towns  
Insurance (Chair) 
Legislative, Congressional and Judicial Districts  
Nominations  
Oil and Gas  
State Affairs  
Utilize Available Space in Capitol Building  
Water and Conservation  
54th R.S. - 1955
Banking  
Civil Jurisprudence  
Commerce and Manufacturing  
Congressional Districts (Chair) 
Constitutional Amendments  
General Investigating (Chair) 
Insurance  
Nominations of the Governor  
Oil, Gas and Conservation  
Privileges and Elections  
Rules (Vice Chair) 
Segregation in Public Schools, Advisory  
State Affairs (Vice Chair) 
53rd R.S. - 1953
Banking  
Civil Jurisprudence  
Committee of the Whole Senate  
Congressional Districts  
Constitutional Amendments  
Criminal Jurisprudence  
Game and Fish  
Insurance  
Nominations of the Governor (Chair) 
Oil, Gas and Conservation  
Poet Laureate Selection, Special  
Privileges and Elections  
Public Health  
Rules (Chair) 
State Affairs  
State Highways and Motor Traffic  
State Penitentiaries  
Texas Commission on Higher Education  
Towns and City Corporations  
Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage  
52nd R.S. - 1951
Aeronautics  
Banking  
Civil Jurisprudence  
Congressional Districts  
Constitutional Amendments  
Corporation Laws Revision, Special  
Criminal Jurisprudence (Chair) 
Insurance  
Internal Improvements  
Labor  
Military and Veterans' Affairs  
Oil, Gas and Conservation (Vice Chair) 
Privileges and Elections  
State Affairs  
State Penitentiaries  
Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage  
51st R.S. - 1949
Aeronautics  
Criminal Jurisprudence  
Engrossed Bills (Chair) 
Enrolled Bills (Chair) 
Finance  
General Investigating  
General Investigating, Special  
Interstate Cooperation  
Labor  
Military Affairs  
Oil, Gas and Conservation  
Penitentiaries  
Veterans' Affairs  
Water Rights, Irrigation and Drainage  
50th R.S. - 1947
Constitutional Amendments  
Counties  
Judiciary  
Motor Traffic  
Revenue and Taxation  
Student Activities at A&M College, Investigation, Special  

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