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A fourth-generation Hale County farmer, Pete Laney (1943-) was born March 20, 1943 in Plainview, Texas. He graduated from Hale Center High School and earned a B.S. in agricultural economics from Texas Tech University. Laney was first elected to the Texas House in 1973. He served as House Administration chairman under Speaker Billy Clayton. He served on a variety of other committees during his tenure in the House, including the Criminal Jurisprudence, Ways and Means, Government Organizations, Elections, Environmental Affairs, and Agriculture committees. In 1993 he was elected to his first term as Speaker. He went on to serve a total of five terms in that role. During his tenure in the House and as Speaker, Laney, a Democrat, was praised by Republicans and Democrats alike for his fair leadership and even-handed approach to solving problems. Laney grows cotton, sorghum and wheat on his Panhandle farm near Hale Center. Throughout his career he has been active in farm, electric, and water associations as well as positions of political leadership. He has received numerous honors and awards for his public service as well. At Texas Tech he met and subsequently married the former Nelda McQuien. They have five children. BIBLIOGRAPHY: link: Laney campaign website. link: "Pete Laney" from the series History Makers of the High Plains.
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