Mark White (Texas politician)
Mark White | |
|---|---|
| 43rd Governor of Texas | |
| In office January 18, 1983 – January 20, 1987 | |
| Lieutenant | William P. Hobby Jr. |
| Preceded by | Bill Clements |
| Succeeded by | Bill Clements |
| 46th Attorney General of Texas | |
| In office January 19, 1979 – January 18, 1983 | |
| Governor | Bill Clements |
| Preceded by | John Hill |
| Succeeded by | Jim Mattox |
| 74th Secretary of State of Texas | |
| In office January 19, 1973 – October 27, 1977 | |
| Governor | Dolph Briscoe |
| Preceded by | V. Larry Teaver Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Steven C. Oaks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Wells White Jr. March 17, 1940 Henderson, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 5, 2017 (aged 77) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Texas State Cemetery Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Linda Thompson (m. 1966) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Baylor University (BBA, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Unit | Texas Army National Guard • 36th Infantry Division |
Mark Wells White Jr. (March 17, 1940 – August 5, 2017) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 43rd governor of Texas from 1983 to 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 74th secretary of state of Texas from 1973 to 1977 and as the 46th attorney general of Texas from 1979 to 1983.
White was elected governor in the 1982 gubernatorial election, defeating the incumbent Bill Clements. A member of the Democratic Party, White sought to improve education, transportation, water resources, law enforcement, and taxes to attract new industry to Texas. He appointed the first Hispanic woman to serve as a judge of a district court in Texas, Elma Salinas Ender. In the 1986 gubernatorial election, White lost to former Republican governor Clements, 52.7% to 46.0%.