CLAYTON, BILL WAYNE (1928 ~ 2007). The following is an Associated Press article published upon the death of former Texas House Speaker Billy Clayton. The article was published on January 8, 2007. Clayton will be buried in Springlake Cemetery in Springlake, Texas.
"SPRINGLAKE, Texas (AP) - Former Texas House Speaker Billy Clayton, who served in the House for 20 years, died Saturday in Lubbock. He was 78.
Clayton had been in ill health for some time, said his daughter, Brenda Herrell of Littlefield.
Michael Phillips, a University of Texas professor who has written about the history of the House speakership, said Clayton was among the first to really use the post of House speaker to wield power.
Clayton served as speaker from 1975 until 1983, which was an unprecedented span then.
During his third term, he was indicted and later acquitted on federal bribery charges filed as part of an FBI sting called 'BriLab.'
He sponsored legislation in the next legislative session to establish the Public Servant Standards of Conduct Advisory Committee, according to the Handbook of Texas online. The committee's report led to new ethics laws in 1983.
In recent years, Clayton served on the board of 'Campaigns for People,' a group that lobbied for stricter campaign finance disclosure laws.
During his tenure as a representative, he also focused on water issues."
Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery research department. |
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