Milton Horace West (June 30, 1888 – October 28, 1948) was a seven-term Democratic member of the
United States House of Representatives representing
Texas's 15th congressional district from 1933 until his death in 1948.
Early life
Milton Horace West was born on a farm near
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. It is the county seat. The population was 7,165 at the 2020 census. The "Come and Take It" flag in the War for Texas Independence from Mexico originated in Gonzales.
Its economy is enh ...
on June 30, 1888. As a child he attended the local public schools in
Gonzales County and later enrolled at
West Texas Military Academy
TMI Episcopal is a private school in San Antonio. Previously known as Texas Military Institute, TMI is a selective coeducational Episcopal college preparatory school with a military tradition in San Antonio, Texas for boarding and day students. ...
in
San Antonio, Texas. After graduation West served with the
Texas Rangers from 1911 to 1912. In 1915, after being admitted to the Texas state bar, he opened his first legal practice in
Floresville, Texas
Floresville is a city in Wilson County, Texas, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population was at 7,203 at the 2020 Census. It is the county seat of Wilson County. The city is also part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statis ...
.
Political career
From 1922 to 1925, West served as district attorney for Texas's 28th judicial district and later as assistant district attorney from 1927 to 1930. He won his first public office in 1930 when he was elected to the
Texas House of Representatives where he served as a
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
from 1930 to 1933. In 1933 West became a U.S. Representative when he was elected to replace
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner III (November 22, 1868 – November 7, 1967), known among his contemporaries as "Cactus Jack", was an American History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician and lawyer from History of Texas, Texas who ...
after his resignation (due to Garner being elected
Vice President).
He was later reelected to seven of his own terms in congress. He was reelected unopposed in 1942, 1944, and 1946 and did not stand for reelection in 1948. He died in office on October 28, 1948. He was a longtime resident of
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville () is a city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Mexico. The city covers , and has a population of 186,738 as of the 2020 census. It ...
where his body was buried in Buena Vista Cemetery. Future U.S. Senator and
Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was an American politician who was a four-term United States Senator (1971–1993) from Texas and the Democratic Party nominee for vice president in 1988 on the Michael Dukakis ti ...
won the special election to fill West's vacant seat.
See also
*
*
Texas's 15th congressional district
*
United States congressional delegations from Texas
References
External links
The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: West to Westbrookat politicalgraveyard.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Milton H.
1888 births
1948 deaths
Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives
Members of the Texas Ranger Division
County district attorneys in Texas
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas
20th-century American politicians
People from Gonzales, Texas
TMI Episcopal alumni