Quick Facts
Biography
Lindley Garrison Beckworth, Sr. (June 30, 1913 – March 9, 1984) was an American politician who represented Texas in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1953 and 1957 to 1967. He later served as a Judge for the United States Customs Court.
Early life and education
Beckworth was born on a farm in the South Bouie community near Mabank, Texas. He attended the rural schools, Abilene Christian College, East Texas State Teachers College, Commerce, Texas, Sam Houston State Teachers College (now Sam Houston State University), and Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. He taught school in Upshur County, Texas for three years and attended the law department of Baylor University, Waco, Texas and the University of Texas at Austin. He was admitted to the bar in 1937 and commenced practice in Gilmer, Texas.
Legal and political career
Beckworth was a member of the Texas House of Representatives 1936-1938. He was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-sixth and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1953) but was not a candidate for renomination in 1952. He was unsuccessful for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator. After Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Longview, Texas. He was elected to the Eighty-fifth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1967) but was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1966. Beckworth was riding in the Dallas motorcade on November 22, 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Federal Judicial Service
On January 16, 1967, President Johnson nominated Beckworth to serve as a Judge for the United States Customs Court in New York, to the seat vacated by Judge David John Wilson. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 2, 1967 and received his commission on March 4, 1967. He resigned from the court on August 31, 1968, and was succeeded by Judge Edward D. Re. Beckworth returned to Texas and was a Texas state senator 1971-73.
Later career and death
Beckworth was a resident of Gladewater, Texas, where he practiced law until his death at Tyler, Texas on March 9, 1984. He was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Texas.