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Biography
William Carey Graves (December 1, 1895 in Washington Parish, Louisiana – January 26, 1966 in Dallas, Texas) was a Democratic Texas State Senator for 4 terms and Majority Leader & Senate President for two of those terms. Graves was Governor of Texas for a day, a self-educated man, a patriot; Graves was an example of men, not classically educated, coming to the early days of Texas with a quality of willingness: to work, achieve and improve life for his family and country.
Education and Early Years
Carey Graves was educated in the public school system of Washington Parish, Louisiana. Graves' first job was that of farmer on his father's land. After graduating from High School, he married Elois Richardson Graves. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Radio Operator on the U.S. Battleship New Jersey. In his spare time, he read the requirements to pass the Bar in the State of Texas. Elois and Cary Graves had one child, a daughter named Maxine Graves Price.
Legal and political career
Known politically as Bill Graves, Carey Graves arrived in Texas looking for every advantage a young state offered. Worked as a Locomotive Fireman on the New Orleans and Northern Railroad, while waiting on results from Texas State Bar Association.Graves passed the Bar Exam the first time he sat for it. As an attorney, he worked on Bills for Old Age Assistance, Teacher Retirement, and Aid for the Blind, Aid for Dependent Children.
Career Summary
- Assistant District Attorney of Dallas, Texas from 1920 to 1924
- City Judge, City of Dallas 1925-27
- Police and Fire Commissioner, City of Dallas, Texas. It was during Graves' time in office, he established a Criminal Investigation Department for Murder.
- Democratic Representative in the Texas Senate, from District 11
- Jan 10, 1939 - Jan 12, 1943 47th &46th
- Jan 12, 1943 - Jan 14, 1947 49th & 48thMajority Leader, Senate President Pro Tem, Ad Interim.
- Charter member of the Bonehead Club of Dallas
- Board Member of the State Board of Education from 1953 to 1966.
Governor of Texas for a Day
October 5–14, 1946, Texas Governor Coke R. Stevenson was called away from the State of Texas & on October 14, 1946 the Lieutenant Governor, John Lee Smith, was called away from the State of Texas; October 14, 1946 Senator Graves, as Majority Leader, was called to act as Texas Governor.
Committees Serves with the Texas Senate, District 11
49th R.S. - 1945 Commerce and Manufacturing (Vice Chair)Constitutional AmendmentsFinanceHighways and Motor TrafficInsurance (Chair)Internal Improvements (Vice Chair)Military AffairsPenitentiariesPublic HealthState AffairsVeterans' Affairs
48th R.S. - 1943 Assignment and Employment, SpecialCommerce and ManufacturingConstitutional Amendments (Chair)Contingent ExpenseCounties and County BoundariesCriminal JurisprudenceFeed Shortage, Investigation, SpecialFinanceInsuranceJudicial DistrictsMilitary AffairsState Departments and InstitutionsState Penitentiaries
47th R.S. - 1941 Civil JurisprudenceCommerce and Manufactures (Chair)Counties and County BoundariesHighways and Motor TrafficInsuranceLabor (Vice Chair)PenitentiariesPublic HealthPublic PrintingState AffairsState Institutions and Departments
46th R.S. - 1939 Civil JurisprudenceCommerce and ManufacturingFederal Relations (Chair)Highways and Motor TrafficInsuranceInternal Improvements (Chair)Nominations of GovernorPrivileges and Elections (Vice Chair)RulesState AffairsTowns and City Corporations
