Gibson D. (Gib) Lewis

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Gibson D. (Gib) Lewis (1936-) is a Democratic U.S. political figure from Texas. He was the first person to be elected five times as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

First elected as Speaker in 1983, Lewis was a key figure in passing the 1984 education reform plan designed by H. Ross Perot and Governor Mark White, which was hailed at the time as one of the most sweeping public education reforms in Texas history. He was instrumental in the passage of the 1985 comprehensive Texas Water Plan. An avid sportsman, Lewis carried legislation creating the "Operation Game Thief" program and was a sponsor of the Uniform Game Management Act. Lewis did not seek re-election to the House in 1992, and retired as Speaker.

Lewis was elected to the House from Tarrant County in 1970 and named chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources in 1973, moving over to chair the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs in 1977. His political career began with his election to the River Oaks City Council in 1969. Born in Oletha, Tex., and raised in Mexia, Tex., Lewis arrived in Tarrant County as member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth.

A successful businessman, Lewis founded Lewis Label Products, a firm specializing in pressure-sensitive labels, and grew it into a multi-million dollar business. He also lobbies state government on behalf of private clients. He is married to the former Sandra Majors.