Randy Pendleton

Randall George Pendleton, known as Randy Pendleton (March 15, 1937 – October 4, 2009),^[1] was a businessman from Andrews, Texas, and later a lobbyist in Austin, who served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives from 1963 to 1969, first in District 75 (1963-1967) and then in District 73 (1967-1969).^[2]

Pendleton was born to George H. Pendleton (1908–1993) and the former Beatrice D. Nelson (1912–1976)^[1] in Wellman in Terry County, Texas. He attended public schools in Andrews and graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He was elected to the House in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1968, but he resigned in 1969 to accept appointment from Governor Preston E. Smith as the Director of State and Federal Relations in Washington, D.C. Pendleton was also a deputy commissioner for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. He served as executive assistant to the commissioner of the Board of Public Welfare. He was a lobbyist for the Beneficial Corporation^[3] and in that capacity worked for passage of the November 4, 1997 state constitutional amendment allowing home-equity lending in Texas.^[4] Pendleton was a board member of the Austin Club.^[3]

Pendleton served in District 73 from 1967–1969; in District 75, 1961–1966. He tendered his resignation to accept the appointment in Washington, effective June 30, 1969. E L Short, a rancher, farmer, and businessman from Tahoka, the seat of Lynn County, won the special runoff election on August 8, 1969.^[2] Short held the seat for nearly a decade, having vacated it in January 1979 to serve a single term in the Texas State Senate.

In 1972, Pendleton returned to the political arena to run, unsuccessfully, against the long-term incumbent Robert S. Calvert for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, who won the last of his two-year terms. Pendleton accused Calvert of having mishandled sales tax collections, a situation which led to declining state revenues.^[5] Two years later, Calvert withdrew from the Democratic primary when faced with the strong challenge of Bob Bullock, a former Texas Secretary of State who would serve as comptroller from 1975–1991, when he became Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

Pendleton tombstone in Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas

Pendleton died in Austin, where he had resided after his political career ended. He was survived by his wife of fifty-two years, the former Frances Ann Guillet (born 1936), the daughter of the former Bernice Guillet (1908–1997) and Henry F. Guillet (1908–1985),^[1] a former county attorney of Andrews County.^[6] There are three Pendleton daughters, Kathryn Ann Winter, Alisa Karen Hudson, and Kristina Kay O'Connor. Services were held at Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3901 Speedway in Austin. Interment was at the Texas State Cemetery, a prerogative for all Texas legislators and their spouses.^[3]

References