| Richard Crawford White | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 16th district |
|
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Ed Foreman |
| Succeeded by | Ronald D. Coleman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 29, 1923 El Paso, Texas |
| Died | February 18, 1998 (aged 74) |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Texas Western College University of Texas |
Richard C. White (April 29, 1923 – February 18, 1998) was an American politician. He served in the Texas House of Representatives and later as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Born in El Paso, Texas, White graduated from Dudley Primary School, and the El Paso High School, as well as the Citizen's Military Training Camp at San Antonio, Texas. Subsequently, from 1940 to 1942, he attended the University of Texas at El Paso, then known as Texas Western College. After his second year of college, White began his World War II service in the United States Marine Corps as a rifleman and Japanese-English interpreter in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945. As a result of injuries suffered, he was awarded the Purple Heart.[1]
Returning to his native state following the war, White received his bachelor's degree (1946) and doctor of jurisprudence (1949) from the University of Texas. He was admitted to the Texas state bar in 1949, returning to his hometown of El Paso to begin his legal career following his graduation. A Democrat, he was elected to the Texas House in 1954 and served until 1958. Closer to home, he was the El Paso County party chairman from 1963 to 1965.[1] He left his county position after his election to the Eighty-ninth Congress as part of the national 1964 Democratic surge linked to President Lyndon B. Johnson's crushing defeat of Republican U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona. White played his part by unseating freshman Republican Representative Ed Foreman of Odessa in the 16th congressional district. One of the few area Republicans to survive the Democratic tide in 1964 was Frank Kell Cahoon, a Midland oilman who won the District 70 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.[2]
As a U.S. Representative, White developed a reputation as a proponent of civil rights.[3] He also chaired the Democratic Research Organization,[3] a group within the party that distributed information from the leadership relevant to pending votes.[4] While his military service made him a natural choice for his place on the House's Armed Services committee, he also served on the Interior, Post Office & Civil Service, and Science & Technology committees.[3] Choosing not to stand for reelection in 1982, White returned to El Paso to resume his law practice.[1]
White was married twice. His first marriage was in 1949 to Kathy, who he met while in college. They had three sons: Rodrick, Richard, and Raymond. After his first wife died, his second marriage was to Kathleen Fitzgerald in 1973. This second marriage produced one daughter, Bonnie, two sons, Sean and Brian, and one step-son, Kenneth.
Richard White died on February 18, 1998. His ashes are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in area 7A.[3]