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When Tom Craddick (1943-) of Midland was elected Speaker of the Texas House on January 14, 2003, he became the first Republican to lead the House in 130 years. In 1968, then just 25 and a Ph.D. candidate at Texas Tech University, Craddick decided to test the political waters and run for a legislative seat from Midland – against the advice of his father, R.F. Craddick, a Midland businessman and Democratic precinct chairman. "Texas is run by Democrats, son; you can't win," warned the elder Craddick. But he did win, and when the freshman lawmaker took office in January 1969, he was one of only eight Republicans in the 150-member Texas House. He served in the House as a leader of the minority party until the 2002 election when Republicans won 88 seats – a majority – in the Texas House. Craddick announced in short order on Nov. 7, 2002 that he had the votes to be elected Speaker. In 1975, then-House Speaker Billy Clayton made Craddick the first Republican committee chair in more than a century, naming him chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, a leadership position Craddick held from the 64th through the 69th Legislatures. Craddick chaired the House Public Health Committee for the 72nd Legislature in 1991 and headed the House Ways and Means Committee in the 73rd, 74th and 75th Legislatures. Craddick has served on committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures and was a delegate to the 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention. He also was a part of the Texas Legislature's original ethical and legislative reform group, the "Dirty Thirty." In January 2009 Craddick was defeated in his bid the continue as speaker by Joe Straus. Craddick was seen by some members as heavy handed and autocratic and as largely responsible for partisan fights that divided the chamber. Since his loss to Straus, Craddick has served as a member of the House representing the 103rd District. In private life, Craddick is a sales representative for Mustang Mud Inc. and owner of Craddick Properties in Midland. He is an Eagle Scout and has held numerous civic posts in his hometown. Among his many honors, in 1995 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Texas Tech. Craddick married the former Nadine Nayfa of Sweetwater, Texas on September 6, 1969, and they have two adult children, Christi Leigh Craddick and Thomas Russell Craddick Jr. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Link: Official biography of Tom Craddick
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