Gammage served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1960, Army Reserve from 1960 to 1964, and the Navy Reserve from 1965 to 2000, where he retired as a captain.
Gammage served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973. Gammage was a member of the so-called "Dirty 30," a bipartisan group of legislators that pushed for reform in the 1970s in the wake of the Sharpstown scandal in which then state House SpeakerGus Mutscher of Brenham in Washington County was convicted and sentenced to five years probation for conspiring to accept a bribe.[2] As a legislator he advocated government reform, consumer and health legislation, voting rights for eighteen-year -olds, and equal rights for women.
In 1982, Gammage was elected as a justice to the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin and served in that position until 1991. He was elected in 1990 to the Texas Supreme Court, on which he served from 1991 until 1995. During his time on the bench Gammage participated in nearly 250 cases. He embraced an expansive interpretation of the legal doctrines and constitutional provisions that protect individual rights and equality.[3][1] Gammage garnered national attention when he resigned from the Texas Supreme Court in 1995 to draw attention to the increasing amount of influence that campaign contributors and political action committees (PACs) had on judicial elections. Working with other proponents of judicial reform, including former Texas State Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips, Gammage was a key actor in bringing about caps on campaign contributions in judicial elections.
On May 27, 2008, Gammage delivered the funeral eulogy for his former "Dirty Thirty" colleague Joseph Hugh Allen, a former representative from Baytown.
In 2008, Gammage worked in the unsuccessful campaign to nominate Hillary Clinton for U.S. president, having traveled to Iowa to meet with voters. According to his wife, Lynda Gammage, he spent his last years often performing pro bono legal work for the needy.[2]
Gammage died at the age of 74 in his Llano home of an apparent heart attack on September 10, 2012.
Texas House Bills and House Joint Resolutions written by Gammage
HB 249, Relating to the regulation of practice used in the collection of debts,
HB 250, Relating to the awarding of attorney's fees in any civil action in which the court finds that equity would be served by the award,
HB 251, Removing insurance companies from coverage exemption,
HB 307, Relating to the definition of deceptive trade practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce,
HB 592 Providing for the compensation to the county attorneys in certain counties,
HB 711, Creating two family district courts for Harris County,
HB 921, Relating to an accused's right to an examining trial before an indictment,
HB 1356, Relating to the casting of contempt upon flags of the United States,
HB 1357, Relating to the jurisdiction of the municipal courts of Texas and to the punishment for certain misdemeanor offenses,
HB 1359, Relating to the abolition of the Parks and Wildlife Department and the transfer of the powers, duties, and functions to tow newly established agencies,
HB 1660, Relating to the creation and jurisdiction of municipal courts in certain cities and the election of municipal judges,
HB 1661, Creating the La Porte Utility District,
HB 1743, Creating Sagemeadow Utility District,
HB 1801, Relating to the registration and filing of financial statements by persons engaged in representations before the Legislature and state agencies,
HB 1843, Relating to the pay of election judges and clerks,
HB 1857, Relating to the assignment of certain retired district judges to sit in certain courts,
HJR 76, Reducing the minimum service requirement for eligibility under the teacher retirement system from ten years to five years.
Notable court opinions
Colquette v. Forbes (1984)
Kirby v. Edgewood Independent School District (1988)
Edgewood Independent School District v. Kirby (1989)
Valenzuela v. Aquino (1993)
State v. Morales (1994)
Barber v. Colorado Independent School District (1995)
Star-Telegram, Inc. v. Doe (1995)
Rodgers v. Bradley (1995)
References
^. KXAN.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
^ abHolley, Joe (11 September 2012). "Bob Gammage, former member of Legislature's 'Dirty 30', dies". LMTonline. Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
^Domino, John (Fall 2013). "The Jurisprudence of Texas Supreme Court Justice Robert A. "Bob" Gammage: A Legacy of Civil Rights & Liberties". South Texas Law Review, 55 S. Tex. L. Rev. 27.
External links
Texas State Political Science Faculty
Sam Houston State University Political Science Faculty
robert, gammage, chartist, historian, robert, george, gammage, robert, alton, gammage, march, 1938, september, 2012, texas, politician, having, served, democrat, texas, house, representatives, texas, state, senate, united, states, house, representatives, assoc. For the Chartist and historian see Robert George Gammage Robert Alton Bob Gammage March 13 1938 September 10 2012 was a Texas politician having served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives the Texas State Senate and the United States House of Representatives 1 Robert GammageAssociate Justice of the Texas Supreme CourtIn office January 2 1991 September 1 1995Preceded byC L Ray Jr Succeeded byJames A BakerTexas Third Court of Appeals JusticeIn office 1982 1991Member of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 22nd districtIn office January 3 1977 January 3 1979Preceded byRon PaulSucceeded byRon PaulMember of the Texas Senate from the 7th districtIn office January 9 1973 January 23 1976Preceded byChet BrooksSucceeded byGene JonesMember of the Texas House of Representatives from the 24 3 districtIn office January 12 1971 January 9 1973Preceded byArthur VanceSucceeded byDistrict rearrangedPersonal detailsBornRobert Alton Gammage 1938 03 13 March 13 1938Houston Texas U S DiedSeptember 10 2012 2012 09 10 aged 74 Austin Texas U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseLynda HallmarkAlma materDel Mar College A A Univ of Corpus Christi B S Sam Houston State Univ M A University of Texas J D University of Virginia LL M OccupationLawyer ProfessorMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch serviceUnited States ArmyUnited States NavyYears of service1959 1960 Active Army 1960 1964 Army Reserve 1965 1995 Naval Reserve RankCaptainUnitU S Navy J A G Corps Contents 1 Education and military service 2 Career 3 Texas House Bills and House Joint Resolutions written by Gammage 4 Notable court opinions 5 References 6 External linksEducation and military service EditGammage was born in Houston and attended Milby High School there He earned an associate of arts from Del Mar College in 1958 and a bachelor of science from the University of Corpus Christi in 1963 both in Corpus Christi He obtained a master s degree from Sam Houston State University in 1965 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969 He also earned an LLM from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986 Gammage served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1960 Army Reserve from 1960 to 1964 and the Navy Reserve from 1965 to 2000 where he retired as a captain Career EditThroughout the late 1960s and early 1970s Gammage was employed on the faculty the University of Corpus Christi San Jacinto College and the South Texas College of Law In the late 1990s and early 2000s decade he taught at Sam Houston State University Texas A amp M University Corpus Christi formerly the University of Corpus Christi Texas State University in San Marcos and Roman Catholic affiliated St Edwards University in Austin Gammage served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 Gammage was a member of the so called Dirty 30 a bipartisan group of legislators that pushed for reform in the 1970s in the wake of the Sharpstown scandal in which then state House Speaker Gus Mutscher of Brenham in Washington County was convicted and sentenced to five years probation for conspiring to accept a bribe 2 As a legislator he advocated government reform consumer and health legislation voting rights for eighteen year olds and equal rights for women Gammage was a member of the Texas State Senate from 1973 to 1976 when he was elected to the 95th Congress having unseated freshman Republican Ron Paul After one term in Congress he lost his seat to Paul in 1978 From 1979 to 1980 Gammage was assistant state attorney general under Attorney General Mark Wells White In 1980 he was a special consultant to the U S Department of Energy under U S President Jimmy Carter the last Democrat to win Texas in the Electoral College In 1982 Gammage was elected as a justice to the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin and served in that position until 1991 He was elected in 1990 to the Texas Supreme Court on which he served from 1991 until 1995 During his time on the bench Gammage participated in nearly 250 cases He embraced an expansive interpretation of the legal doctrines and constitutional provisions that protect individual rights and equality 3 1 Gammage garnered national attention when he resigned from the Texas Supreme Court in 1995 to draw attention to the increasing amount of influence that campaign contributors and political action committees PACs had on judicial elections Working with other proponents of judicial reform including former Texas State Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas R Phillips Gammage was a key actor in bringing about caps on campaign contributions in judicial elections In 2006 Gammage lost the Texas gubernatorial Democratic primary election to former U S Representative Chris Bell of Houston Bell was then defeated by incumbent Republican Rick Perry On May 27 2008 Gammage delivered the funeral eulogy for his former Dirty Thirty colleague Joseph Hugh Allen a former representative from Baytown In 2008 Gammage worked in the unsuccessful campaign to nominate Hillary Clinton for U S president having traveled to Iowa to meet with voters According to his wife Lynda Gammage he spent his last years often performing pro bono legal work for the needy 2 Gammage died at the age of 74 in his Llano home of an apparent heart attack on September 10 2012 Texas House Bills and House Joint Resolutions written by Gammage EditHB 249 Relating to the regulation of practice used in the collection of debts HB 250 Relating to the awarding of attorney s fees in any civil action in which the court finds that equity would be served by the award HB 251 Removing insurance companies from coverage exemption HB 307 Relating to the definition of deceptive trade practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce HB 592 Providing for the compensation to the county attorneys in certain counties HB 711 Creating two family district courts for Harris County HB 921 Relating to an accused s right to an examining trial before an indictment HB 1356 Relating to the casting of contempt upon flags of the United States HB 1357 Relating to the jurisdiction of the municipal courts of Texas and to the punishment for certain misdemeanor offenses HB 1359 Relating to the abolition of the Parks and Wildlife Department and the transfer of the powers duties and functions to tow newly established agencies HB 1660 Relating to the creation and jurisdiction of municipal courts in certain cities and the election of municipal judges HB 1661 Creating the La Porte Utility District HB 1743 Creating Sagemeadow Utility District HB 1801 Relating to the registration and filing of financial statements by persons engaged in representations before the Legislature and state agencies HB 1843 Relating to the pay of election judges and clerks HB 1857 Relating to the assignment of certain retired district judges to sit in certain courts HJR 76 Reducing the minimum service requirement for eligibility under the teacher retirement system from ten years to five years Notable court opinions EditColquette v Forbes 1984 Kirby v Edgewood Independent School District 1988 Edgewood Independent School District v Kirby 1989 Valenzuela v Aquino 1993 State v Morales 1994 Barber v Colorado Independent School District 1995 Star Telegram Inc v Doe 1995 Rodgers v Bradley 1995 References Edit Bob Gammage former officeholder dies KXAN com Archived from the original on 2012 09 12 Retrieved 2012 09 10 a b Holley Joe 11 September 2012 Bob Gammage former member of Legislature s Dirty 30 dies LMTonline Laredo Morning Times Retrieved 23 September 2020 Domino John Fall 2013 The Jurisprudence of Texas Supreme Court Justice Robert A Bob Gammage A Legacy of Civil Rights amp Liberties South Texas Law Review 55 S Tex L Rev 27 External links EditTexas State Political Science Faculty Sam Houston State University Political Science Faculty Robert A Gammage Judicial RecordUnited States Congress Robert Gammage id G000036 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Robert A Gammage Collection at Sam Houston State University Archived 2018 10 03 at the Wayback MachineTexas House of RepresentativesPreceded byArthur Vance Member of the Texas House of Representativesfrom District 24 3 Houston 1971 1973 Succeeded byObsolete districtTexas SenatePreceded byChet Brooks Texas Senate District 71973 1976 Succeeded byGene JonesU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byRon Paul Member of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 22nd congressional district1977 1979 Succeeded byRon PaulLegal officesPreceded byC L Ray Jr Texas Supreme Court Justice Place 81991 1995 Succeeded byJames A Baker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Gammage amp oldid 1130005698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
