Bonham in Fannin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Congressman Sam Rayburn
Photographed By Kayla Harper, June 5, 2021
1. Congressman Sam Rayburn Marker
Born in Tennessee on Jan. 6, 1882, Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn came to north Texas with his parents in 1887. His political career began in 1906 with his election to the Texas House of Representatives, where he was Speaker of the 1911-13 Session.
Rayburn was elected to the U.S. Congress from the 4th District in 1912, the first of his 25 consecutive terms there. Rising quickly to a leadership position, he was chairman of the Democratic party caucus in 1921. As head of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee (1931-37) and then Majority Leader (1937-40), Rayburn sponsored much of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal legislation.
On Sept. 16, 1940 Rayburn was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Except for the 80th (1947-49) and 83rd (1953-55) Congresses, when he was Minority Leader, Rayburn held the speakership until 1961, longer than anyone in the nation's history. A party leader as well, he was chairman of the Democratic National Conventions of 1948, 1952, and 1956.
Rayburn died on Nov. 16, 1961, and Presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, along with Lyndon
this page online
Erected 1975 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8921.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics.
Location. 33° 34.199′ N, 96° 12.473′ W. Marker is in Bonham, Texas, in Fannin County. Marker is on State Highway 56, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 890 W State Highway, Bonham TX 75418, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sam Rayburn House (a few steps from this marker); Bailey Inglish (approx. 1.2 miles away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fannin County (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fannin County Courthouses (approx. 1.8 miles away); James Butler Bonham (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bonham Daily Favorite (approx. 1.8 miles away); John Wesley Hardin (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bonham.
More about this marker. The marker is in the parking lot just to the south of the visitors center.
Photographed By Kayla Harper, June 5, 2021
2. Congressman Sam Rayburn Marker
Photographed By Kayla Harper, June 5, 2021
3. Congressman Sam Rayburn House
Photographed By Kayla Harper, June 5, 2021
4. Congressman Sam Rayburn's desk
Photographed By Kayla Harper, June 5, 2021
5. Back sitting room
Photographed By Kayla Harper, June 5, 2021
6. Rayburn's 1947 Cadillac Fleetwood
Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2021, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 11, 2021, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
