Tom Craddick
Tom Craddick | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 14, 2003 – January 13, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Pete Laney |
| Succeeded by | Joe Straus |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 14, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Kell Cahoon |
| Constituency | 70th district (1969–1973) 68th district (1973–1983) 76th district (1983–1993) 82nd district (1993–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Russell Craddick September 19, 1943 Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nadine Nayfa |
| Children | 2, including Christi Craddick |
| Residence(s) | Midland, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Texas Tech University (BBA, MBA) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Thomas Russell Craddick (born September 19, 1943) is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives representing the 82nd district. Craddick was the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from January 2003 to January 2009. He was the first Republican to serve as Speaker since Reconstruction.
Craddick was first elected in 1968 at the age of twenty-five and, as of 2023, is the longest serving legislator in the history of the Texas House of Representatives and the longest serving incumbent state legislator in the United States. In November 2023, Craddick announced he would run for reelection to a record twenty-ninth term in the 2024 Texas House of Representatives election.