J. Searcy Bracewell Jr.

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Joseph Searcy Bracewell Jr. (January 19, 1918 – May 13, 2003), was a Texas Democratic politician and founder of the law firm Bracewell LLP, based in Houston. He served as both a member of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate from Houston. He was the Texas Senate President Pro Tempore in 1957.[1]

Searcy Bracewell
President pro tempore of the Texas Senate
In office
October 14, 1957 – November 13, 1957
Preceded byCarlos Ashley
Succeeded byWilliam T. Moore
Member of the Texas Senate
In office
January 11, 1949 – January 13, 1959
Preceded byMaribelle Stewart
Succeeded byRobert W. Baker
Constituency
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 1947 – January 11, 1949
Personal details
Born
Joseph Searcy Bracewell Jr.

(1918-01-19)January 19, 1918
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 13, 2003(2003-05-13) (aged 85)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseElizabeth Weaver
EducationTexas A&M College
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
RankMajor
Battles/wars

A state House member from 1947 to 1949 and a senator from 1949 to 1959, Bracewell wrote bills establishing what later became the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School. In 1957, he waged an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate in a special election against Ralph Yarborough for the right to finish the elected term of then Governor Price Daniel.

In 1945, Bracewell, his father, his brother, and a future state district judge joined to form the precursor of the firm that became Bracewell & Giuliani when former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani joined the group in March 2005.

Bracewell served in World War II on the staff of General George S. Patton. He was president and board chairman of the Houston Grand Opera, interim president of the South Texas College of Law, board chairman of the visitors of Texas A&M University at Galveston. He was named Outstanding Houston Aggie in 1978.

Preceded by
Carlos C. Ashley Sr.
Texas Senate President Pro Tempore
1957
Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ Kellar, William H. (October 13, 2010). "Remembering Searcy Bracewell: Reflections of a Houston Lawyer on Campaigning for Public Office" (PDF). Houston History Magazine. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
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