James V. Allred

Early life

Born on March 29, 1899, in Bowie, Texas, the son of Renne Allred Sr. and Mary Magdalene (Henson), Allred graduated from Bowie High School in 1917. He enrolled at Rice Institute (now Rice University) but withdrew for financial reasons. He then served with the United States Immigration Service. Allred served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919. In 1921, he received a Bachelor of Laws from Cumberland School of Law (then part of Cumberland University, now part of Samford University).

Career

Law

Allred began a private law practice in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1921. From 1923 to 1926, he served as district attorney in the city. He returned to private practice in 1926 before becoming Attorney General of Texas in 1931.

Governor of Texas

Allred was elected Governor of Texas in the 1934 gubernatorial election and served until 1939. He was an ardent Democrat and supporter of the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

District court

Allred received a recess appointment to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on July 11, 1938, but he declined the appointment.

On January 5, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Allred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, to a new seat authorized by 52 Stat. 584. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 16, 1939, and received his commission on February 23, 1939. His service ended on May 15, 1942, due to his resignation.

Allred was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate from Texas in 1942. He then returned to private practice in Houston, Texas, from 1943 to 1949.

Allred was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on September 23, 1949, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, to a new seat authorized by 63 Stat. 493. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 12, 1949, and received his commission on October 13, 1949.

Death

During a court session on September 24, 1959, Allred called recess at 11:00a.m. due to feeling ill. He entered Mercy Hospital in Laredo, Texas, where he died at 4:50p.m. from a coronary occlusion. His funeral, held at Wichita Falls Christian Church on September 28, 1959, was visited by Governor Price Daniel, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Ralph Yarborough, Representative Homer Thornberry, and former Governor Dan Moody.

Legacy

The James V. Allred Unit, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) state prison for men in Wichita Falls, Texas, is named for Allred.

Note

References

Sources

• "Ex-Governor Allred Dies After Seizure". The Dallas Morning News, September 25, 1959, sec. I, p. 1.
• "Fiery Allred Got Into Politics Early". The Dallas Morning News, September 25, 1959, sec. I, p. 3.
• "James V. Allred of U.S. Bench, 60; Federal Judge for South Texas Dies – Served Two Terms as Governor, '35–39". The New York Times, September 25, 1959. (Subscription required for access to full article.)
• "Joe Betsy Allred, widow of former governor, dies". The Dallas Morning News, June 9, 1993, p. 30A.

References

1. "Use of the Period After the 'S' in Harry S. Truman's Name". [[National Archives and Records Administration.
2. Ewing, Floyd F.. (June 9, 2010). "Allred, James Burr V (1899–1959)".
3. {{FJC Bio. 32
4. (September 25, 1959). "Seizure Is Fatal to Allred". The Grand Prairie Daily News-Texan.
5. (September 28, 1959). "Rites Today for Allred". The Grand Prairie Daily News-Texan.
6. "Westmoreland Walking Tour – 200 Emerson (1910)". Westmoreland Preservation Alliance.
7. (1998-01-13). "TDCJ 1995 Annual Report".