The Texas Politics Project

Mark Wells White, Jr. was born in Henderson, Texas on March 17, 1940. He attended Houston public schools and Baylor University, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1962 and a law degree from Baylor Law School in 1965. White worked briefly in a private legal practice in Houston before serving three years as an Assistant Attorney General. In 1969, he returned to Houston to a private practice until 1973 when Governor Dolph Briscoe appointed him Secretary of State.

White resigned as Secretary of State in October 1977 in order to run for Attorney General. After being elected and serving as Attorney General from 1979 to 1983, he ran against and defeated Governor Bill Clements in the 1982 governor's race. Governor Mark White served as head of the state from January 18, 1983 to January 20, 1987.

Governor Mark White

During his term in office, White focused his energies on education reform (HB 72, including no-pass/no-play) and utility rate regulation. White also concentrated on economic development and the appointment of minorities to positions on his staff and in the government. Texas' Sesquicentennial occurred in 1986, and the Governor attended and hosted a number of events. The Goddess of Liberty was restored and planning for Capitol restoration began during White's term in office.

White was defeated by Clements in the 1986 election and returned to private life after his term ended in January 1987. He ran for governor in the Democratic primary in 1990 but lost to Ann Richards. Mark White and his wife Linda Gale Thompson have two sons and a daughter.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: link: Texas State Cemetery.

Texas Politics: © 2006, Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services University of Texas at Austin

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