Raymond Woodrow Vowell

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Vowell

Raymond W.
Dec. 13, 1914
Dec. 3, 1979
Beloved Husband
and Father

Lida Ruth
Aug. 9, 1916
Dec. 16, 1981
Beloved Wife
and Mother

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Raymond W. Vowell

Commissioner, Department of Human Resources
1971 - 1977
Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, University of Texas
1965 - 1971
Executive Director, MHMR
1951 - 1965
Full Name: Raymond Woodrow Vowell
Location: Section:Republic Hill, Section 2 (C2)
Row:L  Number:20
Reason for Eligibility: Member, Greater South Texas Cultural Basin Commission 
Birth Date: December 13, 1914 
Died: December 3, 1979 
Burial Date: December 5, 1979 
Confederate Home Roster Information:
Birth Place: Mississippi 
 

VOWELL, RAYMOND WOODROW (1914~1979) Raymond Woodrow Vowell was born December 13, 1914, in Taylorsville, Smith County, Mississippi, to Charles H. and Emma Elizabeth (Gregg) Vowell. He married Lida Ruth Stockton Vowell on April 24, 1943, in Kingsville, Texas. Vowell spent a total of 31 years in public service. He was director of the Texas Department of Public Welfare from July 1, 1971, until August 31, 1977. Previously, he was vice chancellor for public affairs for the University of Texas System. Recognized as a strong administrator and advocate of federal funding of welfare programs, Vowell timed his retirement in 1977 to coincide with the conversion of the public welfare office to the Texas Department of Human Resources. Technically, he served two days as head of the new agency. During his career as state welfare director, Vowell received some criticism for failing to institute enough change in the department. At the time of his retirement, he said that public welfare in Texas is moving into a new era and the Board of Public Welfare should ?have the opportunity to select a commissioner with more potential tenure than I can offer.? Since his retirement, he had worked as a consultant and lobbyist. Although one longtime colleague did not know whom he represented, his clients were known to include business interests of Dallas computer magnate H. Ross Perot. During his time as commissioner of the Texas Department of Public Welfare, Vowell broadened the Medicaid program, instituted the food stamp program to include all 254 Texas counties, and instigated a campaign to report and prevent child abuse and increased welfare fraud investigations. He frequently testified before congressional committees in Washington and occasionally lost battles with the Texas Legislature over the amount of appropriated funds for welfare. Vowell died of a heart attack on December 3, 1979, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 64 years. Biography taken from Austin American-Statesman, December 4, 1979.

Notes:

#8868) Served on the Greater South Texas Cultural Badsin Commission from 1975-1977.
Entered by Administrator on 2/1/1998 12:11:31 PM

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