Joe M. Kilgore
Encyclopedia
Joe Madison Kilgore was a U.S. Representative
from Texas
.
Born in Brown County, near Brownwood
, Texas, Kilgore attended the public schools of Rising Star
, Texas.
He moved with his family to Mission
, Texas, in 1929, where he again attended the public schools.
He attended Westmoreland College (now Trinity University
), San Antonio
, Texas, in 1935 and 1936.
Interrupted law schooling at the University of Texas in July 1941 to enlist in the United States Army
Air Corps and served as a combat pilot in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.
Separated from the service as a lieutenant colonel in 1945.
Awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
He returned to the University of Texas Law School.
He was admitted to the bar in 1946 and commenced the practice of law in Edinburg, Texas
.
He served as member of the State house of representatives from 1947 to 1954.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1956, 1960, and 1968.
Kilgore was elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-fourth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1955-January 3, 1965). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1964 to the Eighty-ninth Congress. Instead, he resumed the practice of law.
He was a resident of Austin
until his death there on February 10, 1999. He is interred at the Texas State Cemetery
there.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Born in Brown County, near Brownwood
Brownwood, Texas
Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.-History:The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced...
, Texas, Kilgore attended the public schools of Rising Star
Rising Star, Texas
Rising Star is a town in Eastland County, Texas, United States. The population was recorded by the 2000 Census as 835.-Geography:Rising Star is located at ....
, Texas.
He moved with his family to Mission
Mission, Texas
Mission is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,058 at the 2010 census Mission is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.-Geography:Mission is located at ....
, Texas, in 1929, where he again attended the public schools.
He attended Westmoreland College (now Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
), San Antonio
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,...
, Texas, in 1935 and 1936.
Interrupted law schooling at the University of Texas in July 1941 to enlist in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Air Corps and served as a combat pilot in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.
Separated from the service as a lieutenant colonel in 1945.
Awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
He returned to the University of Texas Law School.
He was admitted to the bar in 1946 and commenced the practice of law in Edinburg, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Edinburg is a city in and the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,100 at the 2010 census. The University of Texas–Pan American, the only fully accredited four-year university in the Rio Grande Valley, is located in Edinburg.Edinburg is part of the...
.
He served as member of the State house of representatives from 1947 to 1954.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1956, 1960, and 1968.
Kilgore was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Eighty-fourth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1955-January 3, 1965). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1964 to the Eighty-ninth Congress. Instead, he resumed the practice of law.
He was a resident of 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...
until his death there on February 10, 1999. He is interred at the Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
there.