WAYNE, RALPH E. (1932 ~ ). Former Texas House of Representatives Member and Texas State Cemetery Committee Member Ralph Wayne was born on December 14, 1932 in Wellington, Texas. Before attending college, he attended elementary and secondary schools in Georgia, Florida, and Texas. Wayne graduated from West Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1953. He was a Member, Alpha Chi National Honor Society; Member, Student Council; Member, Inter-Club Council; Member, Sigma Nu Fraternity; and a Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges. Additionally, Wayne earned his Permanent Secondary Teacher's Certification and his Multi-engine - pilot's license. Following graduation, he served in the Texas National Guard and the U.S. Army (TDY). Later he was a member of the American Legion, Post 76, Austin, Texas.
Wayne was elected to represent District 78 in the Texas House of Representatives in November of 1964. Wayne served four consecutive terms in the House representing Hale, Floyd and Swisher counties. He served on several key committees during his tenure including stints as Chairman for the House Administration Committee, the Federal Relations Committee and the Committee on Interstate Cooperation. He held membership on Rules, Conservation and Reclamation, State Affairs, Banks and Banking, Urban Affairs, Parks and Wildlife, Labor, and Revenue and Taxation Committees.
He was named one of three "Outstanding Freshman" legislators in the 59th Session and Governor John Connally named him as a delegate to the Southern Regional Education Conference on Quality in Higher Education. Additionally, he was a Presidential Appointed Delegate to the NATO Conference held in Brussels, Belgium and a member, National Legislative Conference. Former Speaker of the House Ben Barnes selected him as a member of the Economic Development Conference of the Council of Southern States Government. Wayne was Barnes' campaign manager in 1968 and 1970 in his bid for the office of Lieutenant Governor. During John Connally's Presidential candidacy in 1979 and 1980, Wayne served as the National Finance Director for his campaign.
Since leaving the Legislature, Wayne has been active in the public and private sectors serving as Chief Deputy Comptroller, State of Texas and President and CEO, Texas Civil Justice League (TCJL). The Texas Civil Justice League was established in 1986. According to the group's mission statement, "the Texas Civil Justice League is the state's oldest and most effective lawsuit reform coalition. Business leaders and former legislators founded TCJL to enact recommendations issued by the 1987 House/Senate Joint Committee on Liability Insurance and Tort Law Procedure."
Ralph Wayne has always been an active and valuable member of the community. His former activities include President, Travis County Grand Jury Association; Chairman, Travis County Elected Officials Grievance Committee; Chairman and Member, Texas Ethics Commission; Member, Texas State Cemetery Committee; Member, Committee, Selection of Federal Magistrate Judges; Chairman, Executive Committee, American Tort Reform Association, Washington, DC; Chairman, Central Plains Savings Association, Director, North State Bank; Director of Governmental Relations, Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association; President, Ralph Wayne Communications Group; Director, Emerald Airlines; Director, Headliners Club; Director, University Club, Austin, Texas; Director, People's Community Clinic Development Council; Board of Directors, High Plains Center for the Performing Arts, Amarillo; Board of Directors, Texas Heritage Foundation; Board of Directors, Texas House Preservation Board; Board of Directors, Scottish Rite Learning center for Dyslexic Children; Vice President, Texas Partners of the Alliance with Peru; Board of Directors, American Studies Institute of the Southwest, Wayland Baptist College; Board of Directors, Plainview YMCA, United Fund and Red Cross; Chairman, Legislative and Aviation Committees, Plainview Chamber of Commerce; and Board Member, Texas - Palo Duro Canyon. In addition to professional activities, Wayne has been active in the church as a Deacon at Riverbend Baptist Church, Chairman, Co-Ordinating Committee at Riverbend Baptist Church; Chairman of the Personnel Committee at Riverbend Baptist Church; and was on the Board of Trustees at Highland Park Baptist Church School.
Currently, Wayne is involved with the following activities Co-Founder, Past President, Director, Greater Austin Crime Commission; Co-Founder, Past President, Director, Greater Austin Crime Commission/Austin; Board of Directors, Dyslexia Research Foundation of Texas; President, Scottish Rite Educational Association of Texas; President, Scottish Rite Dormitory for Women, University of Texas / Austin; Chairman of Executive Committee, Scottish Rite Dormitory at University of Texas / Austin; President, Vice Chairman, Director, “Friends” of the Texas State Cemetery; Board of Trustees, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children / Dallas; Board of Director’s, East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse / Longview, TX; Board of Director’s, Texas Civil Justice League / Austin; Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors, American Tort Reform Association/Washington; President, Mesa Broadcasting, Inc./Austin; Board of Trustees, High Plains Research Foundation (Lifetime Trustee); Board of Trustees, Austin Cops for Charities /Austin; Advisory Board, Annette Strauss Institute, University of Texas / Austin; Director, RMT Mesa, LLC/Austin; Board of Trustees, Laney Center for Public Service/Austin; Board of Directors, Texas Department of Public Safety Foundation; “Police Chief’s Award”, Austin Police Department, Austin, TX; Honorary Policeman-Austin Police Association/Austin; Board of Directors, University of Texas Police Department Academy; Certified Hospital Trustee; and Admiral-Texas Admiral’s Association.
Wayne is also a dedicated Master Mason earning his 50 year pin. Additionally, he is a 33rd Degree SGIG Scottish Rite Mason; Named Grand Cross Scottish Rite Mason, one of ten named in US in Washington for 2015; Double Eagle Award Recipient; Member, University Masonic Lodge #1190 /Austin; Ben Hur Shriner’s Temple /Austin; York Rite Mason /Austin; Texas Lodge of Research; and National Masonic Sojourners, Austin Chapter, Military members. Member National Sojourners, Life Member, 365 Club, Member of “Heroes of 76” of Anson Jones' Chapter 507, Endowed Member of University Lodge 1190 since 1965, Austin, Tx, Member of Texas Lodge of Research, Member Ben Hur Shriner’s, Austin, Tx. 33⁰, GRAND CROSS Scottish Rite Mason-August 23, 2015, York Rite Mason, Reserved Chair at Texas Masonic Lodge in Waco. Trustee of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Chairman, Scottish Rite Dormitory for Women at the University of Texas in Austin.
Ralph Wayne is married to his wife Martie (Marth Ann Nesloney Wayne) and they have four children, Tyler, Reb, Melanie, and Carla (deceased).
Information taken from Texas State Cemetery file materials. |
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