BUSH, ROBERT GRAMMAR (1936~2002) Robert G. Bush III, Sherman attorney and former Texas State Representative, was born January 15, 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri to Robert Grammar Bush, Jr. and Margaret Irene Woolard Bush. He graduated from University of Kansas and Southern Methodist University Law School and also attended New York University School of Law. In his senior year at the University of Kansas, he was chosen one of the top 10 men on campus out of a class of over 300 students. He served in the U.S. Army, after graduating from the University of Kansas.
On Jan. 20, 1962, in Dallas, he married Wanda Baker. They moved to Sherman in 1963 and he began his law practice with Nance & Caston. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1976 and was appointed by the House Speaker to chair the Judiciary Committee for three consecutive terms. He served as a member of the powerful Appropriations, State Affairs and Financial Institutions committees. Unanimously, he was elected the first House Majority Leader two consecutive terms.
He passed landmark legislation which significantly changed the Texas Natural Death Act, including allowing terminally ill patients to make an oral directive regarding their desire to have life sustaining procedures withheld, bringing Texas to the forefront of all states on this issue. Along with passing many other major pieces of legislation, he served as the First Master of Discovery in an election contest conducted by the Texas Legislature. During his 10 years as State Representative, he served with three Governors of Texas and two House Speakers. He introduced 139 Bills.
In his short life span, he was recognized for his great leadership abilities, and served not only his clients and community well, but represented the people of District 62 for 10 years in the Texas State House of Representatives. As a member of the State Bar of Texas, he served on the Administration of Rules of Evidence in civil cases, Selection, Compensation and Tenure of State Judges, and the Advisory Committee that drafts the Revised Rules of Evidence. He was also President of the Grayson County Bar Association and Associate Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. He was a director of the East Texas Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Sherman Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee. In 1969, he received the Outstanding Young Man Award from the Sherman Jaycees. A founder and former President of the Sherman Boys and Girls Club, he was recipient of the Golden Boy Award, an award given by the organization for highest service. He continued to serve on the board until his death.
He was Chairman of the Grayson County Child Welfare Board, and President of Sherman Musical Arts. He was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church for 39 years and served as a choir member, teacher and on the Vestry. He was an evening instructor of Business and Real Estate Law at Grayson County College. He wrote articles that were published in the Texas Trial Lawyers Forum, Texas Bar Journal, Texas Observer and Trial Lawyers Forum. In 1985, he was honored as one of the Ten Best Legislators from a Family Law Perspective by the State Bar of Texas.
He also served as a speaker at the Annual Convention of the State Bar of Texas in Dallas, Governors Conference on Prosecution in Austin, Governor's Conference on the Judiciary in Austin, State Bar Institute on Venue in San Antonio, Annual Conference of the Judicial Section of the State Bar in Fort Worth and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel Seminar in Kerrville. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, art, music and raising Black Angus cattle on his farm, just east of Sherman. He enrolled in courses at Texas A&M on conservation and land management.
Representative Bush passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at his home.
Information taken from obituary, Herald Democrat, Wednesday, May 15, 2002. |
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