Tom Vandergriff
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| Honorable Tommy Joe Vandergriff | |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 |
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| Succeeded by | Dick Armey |
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| Constituency | Portions of the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas metropolitan area |
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| Born | January 29, 1926 Carrollton, TX |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Arlington, Texas |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | politician and businessman |
| Congressional biography[1], Texas House Resolution 18, 2007[2] | |
| Honorable Tommy Joe Vandergriff | |
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Mayor
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| In office April 3, 1951 – January 11, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | B. C. Barnes |
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| Succeeded by | S. J. Stovall |
| Constituency | Arlington, Texas |
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| City of Arlington Hall of Mayors[3] | |
| Honorable Tommy Joe Vandergriff | |
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County Judge
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| In office 1991 – January,2007 |
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| Preceded by | Roy English |
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| Succeeded by | B. Glen Whitley |
| Constituency | Tarrant County, Texas |
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| Political party | Republican |
| List of elected officials, 2005,[4] "Tarrant County 4 Republicans, Democrat hoping to succeed English"[5] | |
Tommy Joe Vandergriff (born January 29, 1926) is a politician from the U.S. state of Texas. He served as Mayor of Arlington from 1951 to 1977, as a U.S. Congressman from Texas's 26th congressional district from 1983 to 1985, and as County Judge of Tarrant County from 1991 to 2007. For most of his life, he was a Democrat, but he became a Republican around 1990[6].
He is best known as being influential in bringing Major League Baseball to North Texas; While serving as mayor of Arlington he convinced the Washington Senators franchise owner Robert Short to relocate his Washington Senators baseball team to Arlington as the Texas Rangers. In the early days of the Rangers, Tom also served as a broadcaster for the team as well.
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[edit] Political career
[edit] Mayor of Arlington, 1951-1977
During his 26 years as Mayor of Arlington, Tom Vandergriff brought a General Motors assembly plant into Arlington, 1953,[7] convinced the Washington Senators to move to Arlington and become the Texas Rangers, 1972,[8] saw Arlington State College elevated to University status and became the University of Texas at Arlington,[2] helped create the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport,[2] and saw his city grow from about 8,000 people to over 120,000.[2]
[edit] US House of Representatives
Tom Vandergriff was elected as a Democrat to the newly formed Texas 26th Congressional District and represented Arlington from 1983-1985.[1]
[edit] County Judge
As a Republican, Tom Vandergriff served 4 terms as County Judge[9] for Tarrant County, from 1991 until 2007.[2]
[edit] Non-political career
[edit] Texas Rangers
As Mayor, Tom Vandergriff brought the newly renamed Texas Rangers to Arlington. He served as a TV broadcaster from 1975 to 1977[10] and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.[11]
[edit] Businesses
Tom Vandergriff worked in his family's businesses including a chain of car dealerships.[12]
[edit] See also
[edit] For Further Reading
- The North Texas Commission, Judge Tom Vandergriff Named Regional Champion, retrieved July 7, 2007, includes extended list of political achievements
[edit] References
- ^ a b Congressional biography from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ^ a b c d e Texas House Resolution 18 "Commending the Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff of Arlington on the occasion of his retirement as Tarrant County judge" adopted May 4, 2007, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ City of Arlington, Texas, City of Arlington Hall of Mayors, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ Elected Officials Representing Tarrant County as of January 1, 2005, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ Nather, David, "Tarrant County 4 Republicans, Democrat hoping to succeed English," The Dallas Morning News, March 11, 1990
- ^ Francis, Robert, Vandergriff tapped as trail boss for Western Heritage celebration 2007-01-15, Fort Worth Business Press, retrieved 2008-02-21
- ^ General Motors Celebrates 50 Years In Arlington, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ Pfeifle, Eric (June 21, 2001). TEXAS RANGERS. Handbook of Texas Online. The Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Smith, Dick, The Texas Handbook Online, County Judge, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ Rangers Broadcasters, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ The Official Site of the Texas Rangers: History: Rangers Hall of Famers, retrieved July 7, 2007
- ^ Vandergriff, W. T. (William Thomas), 1902-1992, Hooker Vandergriff Family Collection, 1935-1998, bulk 939-1986, available from the University of Texas at Arlington Library's archives. Web site retrieved July 7, 2007.
| Preceded by new district |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 26th congressional district 1983–1985 |
Succeeded by Dick Armey |
| Preceded by B. C. Barnes |
Mayors of Arlington, Texas 1951-1977 |
Succeeded by S. J. Stovall |
| Preceded by Roy English |
Tarrant County, Texas County Judges 1991-2007 |
Succeeded by B. Glen Whitley |
