About SRMS
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn Sam Rayburn was born on January 6, 1882. At the age of five, his family moved from Tennessee to Fannin County in North East Texas. After finishing high school, he attended East Texas Normal College (now East Texas State University) in Commerce, Texas. Upon finishing college he taught school in Greenwood, Texas.
In 1906 Sam was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and 1908 he passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. He continued as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and in 1911 was elected to Speakership of the Texas House.
In 1912 Sam Rayburn was elected to the U.S. House Representatives. He continued to serve in the U.S. House and was elected Majority House Leader in 1937. Sam served in the Congress for 48 years. In 1940 he was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and served in this capacity for 17 years, longer than any Speaker in American history. He served with 8 Presidents.
On November 16, 1961, Sam Rayburn died of pancreatic cancer. He was recognized by his peers as "the greatest lawmaker in the history of the United States of America".
Some of the legislative accomplishments of Sam Rayburn are: - REA - He brought electricity to farms in America. - Farm-to-Market Road Program - He lifted the farmer out of the mud. - Regulation of Wall Street - He
protected the savings of millions of people who invest in stocks and bonds. - GI Insurance and Veteran's Disability Payments - He helped every American soldier and his family since 1917. - Soil Conservation and Flood Control Measures - He helped save the priceless heritage of the soil.
Information taken from the book Liles, Maurine Walpole. Sam and the Speaker's Chair. Austin, Texas: Eakin Press, c1994.
Mascot: Raiders
Colors: Blue & Gold
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