Gib Lewis

Gibson Donald "Gib" Lewis
250px Gib Lewis applauds Governor Mark White's address to a joint session of the Texas Legislature.
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office 1983–1993
Preceded by	Bill W. Clayton
Succeeded by	Pete Laney
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from Tarrant County (districts vary)
In office 1971–1993
Preceded by	Robert M. Burnett (District 52)
Succeeded by	Homer Dear (District 89)
Personal details
Born	(1936-08-22) August 22, 1936 Oletha, Limestone County, Texas, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Sandra Majors Lewis
Residence	Fort Worth, Texas
Alma mater	Cleveland (Texas) High School Sam Houston State University
Occupation	Businessman; lobbyist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Air Force

Gibson Donald Lewis, known as Gib Lewis (born August 22, 1936), is a political consultant and a Democratic former politician from Fort Worth, Texas. He was the first person to be elected five times as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a plea bargain agreement connected with his misdemeanor conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.

Background

Lewis was born in Oletha in Limestone County and reared partly in Mexia in east central Texas. He spent his formative years in Cleveland, Texas, where he graduated in 1955 from Cleveland High School. He then enrolled at Sam Houston State College in Huntsville in Walker County in East Texas.

Lewis founded Lewis Label Products, a firm which specialized in pressure-sensitive labels. It grew into a multimillion dollar business. Since leaving the state legislature, he has lobbied state government on behalf of private clients.

Lewis is married to the former Sandra Majors.

He is the namesake of the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and the Gib Lewis Prison Unit in Woodville, Texas.

Political career

Lewis was elected Speaker in 1983 to succeed Bill W. Clayton of Springlake, Lamb County. He was a key figure in passing the 1984 education act, designed by Ross Perot and Democratic Governor Mark White, hailed at the time as one of the most sweeping public education reforms in Texas history. He was instrumental in the passage of the 1985 comprehensive Texas Water Plan. He later promoted legislation to combat crime, including stricter laws against drunk drivers. An avid sportsman, Lewis carried legislation creating the "Operation Game Thief" program and was a sponsor of the Uniform Game Management Act.

In 1969, Lewis was elected to the River Oaks City Council. He arrived the next year in Fort Worth, the county seat of Tarrant County, as a member of the U.S. Air Force, having been stationed at Carswell Air Force Base.

In 1970, Lewis was elected to the House from Tarrant County. In 1973, he was named chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. In 1977, he chaired the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.

Criminal activity

Conviction on ethics charges

In January 1992, Lewis pleaded no contest to two charges alleging that he illegally accepted a gift from a prominent law firm in San Antonio, Texas, and failed to disclose the money on official financial reports filed with the state. As part of a plea bargain, Lewis agreed to not seek reelection and to pay a fine of $1,000 for each charge.

DWI arrest

In June 2009, Lewis was arrested in the capital city of Austin, on probable cause of driving while intoxicated. His breathalyzer test indicated a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.16 g/dl, twice the legal limit in Texas, and over three times the "best practices" limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

External links

• Lewis Label Products Company - A business founded by Lewis
• Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library - The website of Lewis' namesake library
• Lewis Label to Sponsor the 2016 Zest Festival, Texas

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Robert M. “Bob" Burnett	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 52-4 (Fort Worth) 1971–1973	Succeeded by Obsolete district
Preceded by Obsolete district	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 32-4 (Fort Worth) 1973–1977	Succeeded by Obsolete district
Preceded by Obsolete district	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 32-E (Fort Worth) 1977–1979	Succeeded by Charles Evans
Preceded by Roy English	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 32-G (Fort Worth) 1979–1983	Succeeded by Obsolete district
Preceded by Senfronia Thompson	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 89 (Fort Worth) 1983–1993	Succeeded by Homer Dear
Political offices
Preceded by Bill Clayton	Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives 1983-1993	Succeeded by Pete Laney