For other people named William Clements, see William Clements (disambiguation).
Bill Clements
Portrait of Clements, c. 1991
42nd & 44th Governor of Texas
In office January 20, 1987 – January 15, 1991
Lieutenant
William P. Hobby Jr.
Preceded by
Mark White
Succeeded by
Ann Richards
In office January 16, 1979 – January 18, 1983
Lieutenant
William P. Hobby Jr.
Preceded by
Dolph Briscoe
Succeeded by
Mark White
Acting United States Secretary of Defense
In office May 24, 1973 – July 2, 1973
President
Richard Nixon
Preceded by
Elliot Richardson
Succeeded by
James R. Schlesinger
15th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
In office January 30, 1973 – January 20, 1977
President
Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by
Kenneth Rush
Succeeded by
Robert Ellsworth
Personal details
Born
William Perry Clements Jr.
(1917-04-13)April 13, 1917 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died
May 29, 2011(2011-05-29) (aged 94) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Resting place
Grove Hill Memorial Park Dallas, Texas
Political party
Republican
Spouses
Pauline Gill
(m. 1940; div. 1975)
Rita Crocker
(m. 1975)
Children
2
Residence(s)
Dallas, Texas
Alma mater
Southern Methodist University (dropped out)
Profession
Oil driller
Military service
Branch/service
United States Army Corps of Engineers
Years of service
1941–1945
Battles/wars
World War II
William Perry Clements Jr. (April 13, 1917 – May 29, 2011) was an American businessman and Republican Party politician who served two nonconsecutive terms as the governor of Texas between 1979 and 1991. His terms bookended the sole term served by Mark Wells White, a Democrat who defeated Clements in the 1982 election only to lose his campaign for reelection in 1986.
When Clements was first sworn in 1979, he became the first Republican to have served as governor of Texas since Reconstruction. When Clements left office for good at the end of his second term in 1991, his eight years in office were the most served by any Texas governor until Rick Perry surpassed his total in 2009. Clements was the first governor to be elected to multiple terms since Texas changed its constitution in 1972 to extend its governor's term of office to four years. Since then, George W. Bush, Rick Perry, and Greg Abbott, also Republicans, have all won multiple terms.
Before he became Governor of Texas, Clements made his fortune in crude oil and served as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense for President Richard Nixon. After his first gubernatorial term ended, Clements joined the administrative staff at Southern Methodist University where he served as chairman of the Board of Governors. While there, he presided over a massive pay-to-play system in the school's football program that resulted in catastrophic consequences for the team and the end of his political career.
White, a Democrat who defeated Clements in the 1982 election only to lose his campaign for reelection in 1986. When Clements was first sworn in 1979, he...
(2010-11-04). "Clement to become U.S. citizen during Flyers game tonight". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-09-08. BillClementSpeaking.com BillClement: Keynote...
The William P. "Bill" Clements Unit (BC) is a state prison of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) located in unincorporated Potter County,...
Mark White ran for reelection against former Republican Governor BillClements. Clements was elected to a second, non-consecutive term as governor, winning...
school in Sugar Land, Texas. Named after former Texas governor BillClements, Clements High School is a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District...
materialized, the scandal effectively ended Clements' political career; he did not run for re-election in 1990. Clements died in 2011 at the age of 94. Bobby...
released a statement of condolence, acknowledging Clements' strength and service to the state of Texas. Clements received the Miss Ima Hogg Special Award from...
William Clement may refer to: BillClement (rugby union) (1915–2007), rugby union player from Wales BillClement (born 1950), ice hockey player from Canada...
before choosing to retire in 1968, leaving office on January 21, 1969. BillClements served two non-consecutive four-year terms, having been elected in 1978...
campaign of 1979–1980. His work for BillClements during the Texas gubernatorial election of 1978 helped Clements become the first Republican Governor...
Hill's 49%. In doing so, Clements became the first Republican to be elected governor since Reconstruction in 1869. Besides Clements' upset victory in the...
Lady of the United States (2001–2009), First Lady of Texas (1995–2000) BillClements (attended) – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (1973–1977) Hope Hicks...
1982, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor BillClements ran for reelection, but was defeated in the general election by Democrat...
a new trial. Before the trial could begin, however, Texas Governor BillClements commuted Adams' sentence to life in prison at the request of the Dallas...
changed." 104 years after the most recent previous Republican governor, BillClements eked out a narrow victory in November 1978. In 1984, Reagan, George...
1990, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor BillClements did not run for re-election, so the election pitted Democrat Ann Richards...
Emrick, and Mike Patrick handled the play-by-play, and Mickey Redmond, BillClement, John Davidson, Gary Dornhoefer, Phil Esposito, and Brad Park provided...
Governor BillClements, who had been elected to a second, non-consecutive term in the 1986 election (he had previously been elected in 1978). Clements elected...
consecutive years in office (Allan Shivers) or eight years total service (BillClements, in two non-consecutive four-year terms). Former governor Rick Perry...
in the 1978 Democratic primary. Hill would go on to narrowly lose to BillClements in the general election, marking the first time the Democratic Party...
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