Tom Craddick

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Tom Craddick (1943-) is the current Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Craddick is the first member of the Republican Party to hold the position of Speaker since Reconstruction.

While a doctoral student at Texas Tech University, Craddick decided to run for the Texas Legislature as a Midland Republican. Given the environment at that time, even his father warned him against it. "Texas is run by Democrats," the Midland businessman, R.F. Craddick told him. "You can't win."^{[citation needed]}

The former Eagle Scout was elected to the Texas House in 1968 at the age of 25; he was just one of eight Republicans in the chamber at that time. In 1975, Craddick was named as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, the first Republican to chair a committee in more than a century. On January 11, 2003, after 34 years in the Texas House of Representatives, Craddick became the first Republican Speaker in more than 130 years. During his first term as Speaker, Craddick pushed through an unprecedented mid-decade congressional redistricting that sparked the Killers Ds. He was re-elected Speaker in 2005.

Born September 19 1943, Craddick is married to the former Nadine Nayfa, a Sweetwater native of Lebanese descent. His children are Christi Leigh and Thomas Russell, Jr. Thomas Jr. and his wife, the former Laura Parker, have a son, Thomas Russell 3d. He holds undergraduate and graduate business degrees from Texas Tech University. He lists his occupation as sales representative for Mustang Mud, an oilfield supply company, although he also an real estate speculator and developer.

Preceded by Pete Laney	Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives 2003 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by Nolan “Buzz” Robnett	Texas House of Representatives, District 82 1993 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by Pete Laney	Texas House of Representatives, District 76 1983–1993	Succeeded by Nancy McDonald
Preceded by Ace Pickens	Texas House of Representatives, District 68 1973–1983	Succeeded by Dudley Harrison
Preceded by Frank Cahoon	Texas House of Representatives, District 70 1969–1973	Succeeded by Hilary B. Doran, Jr.