Glenn Kothmann
Encyclopedia
Glenn H. Kothmann is a San Antonio, Texas
politician. He represented Bexar County
as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives
and Texas Senate
for 26 years between 1957 and 1987. Kothmann is a 1950 graduate from Texas A&M University
, where he was a varsity athlete.
In 1972, Kothmann was elected to the Texas Senate from District 19
representing a portion of Bexar County for the 62nd Legislature
and served to the 69th Legislature
. Kothmann did not seek reelection to another senate term in 1986.
In July 1973, Kothmann was named one of the ten worst legislators by Texas Monthly
magazine in their biennial feature on best and worst Texas legislators. The article referred to Kothmann as “easily the densest member of the Senate” and noted he “has no legislative program of any consequence and seems proud of the fact.”
In 1975, for the regular session of the 64th Legislature
, Kothmann was elected as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. In that capacity, he served as Acting Governor of Texas on 28 June 1975. Kothmann wrote and helped to secure passage of SB 276 to establish the San Antonio State School, a long-term residential facility for the mentally retarded. Despite that accomplishment, in July of that same year, he was again named one of the ten worst legislators by Texas Monthly.
In 1977, Kothmann reappeared on Texas Monthly’s Ten Worst list as the only legislator named to it for three consecutive sessions. He was described as “hopelessly inept” and ”an embarrassment even in a lackluster Senate.”
In 1979, Kothmann was a member of the Killer Bees, the group of twelve quorum
-busting Democratic senators that hid out in an Austin
garage apartment for 4½ days.
In 1983, during the 68th Legislature, Kothmann was described as “hilariously inept” as he made a return appearance on the Texas Monthly Ten Worst list after a six-year absence. He was also said to be “the only senator in Texas history to climb as high as fourth in seniority without being named a committee chairman.”
After the 69th Legislature
, Kothmann was described as a “monument to the indifference of the people of South San Antonio, who have endured nonrepresentation in the Senate for fourteen years” as he made his final appearance on the Texas Monthly Ten Worst list.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
politician. He represented Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
for 26 years between 1957 and 1987. Kothmann is a 1950 graduate from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, where he was a varsity athlete.
Political career
Kothmann represented Bexar County for ten years in the Texas House of Representatives in three nonconsecutive stints. His first two-year term was from 1957 to 1959. Kothmann was returned to the House for three terms from 1961 to 1967, and served a final term from 1969 to 1971.In 1972, Kothmann was elected to the Texas Senate from District 19
Texas Senate, District 19
District 19 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves all of Bandera, Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler counties, and portions...
representing a portion of Bexar County for the 62nd Legislature
Sixty-second Texas Legislature
The 62nd Texas Legislature met from January 12, 1971 to May 31, 1971 in regular session, and again in four more special called sessions...
and served to the 69th Legislature
Sixty-ninth Texas Legislature
The 69th Texas Legislature met in regular session from January 8, 1985 to May 27, 1985, and in three subsequent special called sessions...
. Kothmann did not seek reelection to another senate term in 1986.
In July 1973, Kothmann was named one of the ten worst legislators by Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
magazine in their biennial feature on best and worst Texas legislators. The article referred to Kothmann as “easily the densest member of the Senate” and noted he “has no legislative program of any consequence and seems proud of the fact.”
In 1975, for the regular session of the 64th Legislature
Sixty-fourth Texas Legislature
The 64th Texas Legislature met from January 14, 1975 to June 2, 1975. All members present during this session were elected in the 1974 general elections.-Senate:-House:-Senate:* Lieutenant Governor: William P. Hobby, Jr., Democrat...
, Kothmann was elected as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. In that capacity, he served as Acting Governor of Texas on 28 June 1975. Kothmann wrote and helped to secure passage of SB 276 to establish the San Antonio State School, a long-term residential facility for the mentally retarded. Despite that accomplishment, in July of that same year, he was again named one of the ten worst legislators by Texas Monthly.
In 1977, Kothmann reappeared on Texas Monthly’s Ten Worst list as the only legislator named to it for three consecutive sessions. He was described as “hopelessly inept” and ”an embarrassment even in a lackluster Senate.”
In 1979, Kothmann was a member of the Killer Bees, the group of twelve quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
-busting Democratic senators that hid out in an Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
garage apartment for 4½ days.
In 1983, during the 68th Legislature, Kothmann was described as “hilariously inept” as he made a return appearance on the Texas Monthly Ten Worst list after a six-year absence. He was also said to be “the only senator in Texas history to climb as high as fourth in seniority without being named a committee chairman.”
After the 69th Legislature
Sixty-ninth Texas Legislature
The 69th Texas Legislature met in regular session from January 8, 1985 to May 27, 1985, and in three subsequent special called sessions...
, Kothmann was described as a “monument to the indifference of the people of South San Antonio, who have endured nonrepresentation in the Senate for fourteen years” as he made his final appearance on the Texas Monthly Ten Worst list.