Warren G. Harding (Texas politician)

Early life

Harding was born on January 8, 1921, to Ethel () and William Moore Harding, on a farm in Princeton, Texas. The Harding family is not related to Warren G. Harding, who was President-elect of the United States when he was born.

The Harding family moved to Dallas when he was young, and he graduated from schools in the Dallas Independent School District. Harding attended North Texas State University and Southern Methodist University. He earned a bachelor's degree in government. During World War II, Harding served in the United States Navy. After the war, he became a deputy district clerk for Dallas County, Texas.

Political career

As a member of the Democratic Party, Harding ran in an election for county treasurer of Dallas County in 1950, in part due to his famous name. He won a four-year term. In 1956, he ran for election to be the Texas State Treasurer against incumbent Jesse James in the Democratic Party primary election; James defeated Harding, receiving 518,102 votes while Harding received 367,067 in the unofficial vote count. In 1964, Harding was elected president of the National Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers, which represented over 3,000 counties in the United States. The National Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers named him an outstanding treasurer and he won the first Outstanding Treasurer Award from the County Treasurer's Association of Texas, of which he also served as president.

Harding continued to serve as county treasurer until October 5, 1977, when Governor Dolph Briscoe appointed Harding to the position of State Treasurer after James' death. In 1978, Harding was elected to a full four-year term.

Charges

In 1982, Ronnie Earle, the district attorney for Travis County, Texas, investigated Harding for misusing his office. Harding was indicted on two third-degree felony charges of official misconduct for allegedly having two state employees work on his reelection campaign during time they were supposed to be working for the state.

The indictments came mere days before the election filing deadline, and three challengers entered the race. Harding continued his campaign in the Democratic primary and finished second in the first round of balloting, advancing to a runoff election against Ann Richards. After initially entering an innocent plea, but before the runoff election, Harding pled guilty to a misdemeanor offense in return for prosecutors dismissing the felony charges and Harding withdrew his candidacy. Richards was elected to office in 1982. Harding paid a $2,000 fine and reimbursed the state $2,000.

District Attorney Earle also alleged that Harding had used his position to benefit his son, Warren Jr., who sold bonds for the brokerage firm Rauscher Pierce Refsnes. No charges were filed on that allegation.

In 1985, Sam B. Hall Jr., who served in the United States House of Representatives representing , resigned when he was appointed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Harding ran in a special election to serve the remainder of Hall's term. In the first round of the election, held on June 29, Harding finished in seventh place out of eight candidates, with Edd Hargett and Jim Chapman finishing in first and second place, respectively, and advancing to a runoff election.

Personal life

Harding and his wife, LaVelle, had three children. Harding was in freemasonry, as a member of the Scottish Rite.

Harding died April 2, 2005, in Dallas, Texas, and is interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

References

References

1. (April 3, 2005). "Funerals and Memorials". Austin American-Statesman.
2. (October 6, 1977). "Warren G. Harding new state treasurer". The Odessa American.
3. (February 25, 1965). "Warren Harding To Speak Tonight For Plano Masons". The Courier-Gazette.
4. (April 25, 1982). "Texas Primary '82: Harding". The Paris News.
5. (July 29, 1956). "Daniel, Yarborough Face Runoff; Five Local Races Left Undecided". The Paris News.
6. (August 13, 1964). "Harding Gets National Assn. Presidency". The Irving Daily News Texan.
7. (October 6, 1977). "From Jesse James to Warren Harding". San Antonio Express.
8. (March 24, 1982). "State Treasurer Warren G. Harding, who faces two felony... - UPI Archives". Upi.com.
9. (April 1, 1982). "State Treasurer Warren G. Harding pleaded innocent today on... - UPI Archives". Upi.com.
10. (September 13, 2006). "Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards dies at 73 - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com.
11. McNeely, Dave. (August 2, 1990). "GOP chairman hints Earle harassed ex-treasurer". Austin American-Statesman.
12. Palmer, Dana. (May 30, 1985). "Warren G. Harding runs for Sam Hall's congressional seat". The Paris News.
13. (July 2, 1985). "Congressional runoff elections set for August 3". The Marshall News Messenger.
14. Elliot, David. (October 11, 1990). "What's in a name? Candidates see votes". Austin American-Statesman.
15. "Texas State Cemetery". Cemetery.state.tx.us.
16. ''Dallas Morning News'', April 6, 2005