(1921-2006)

Lloyd Bentsen was born on February 11, 1921 in Mission, Texas and graduated from Sharyland High School in Mission. He received a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1942. After graduating, Bentsen enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a pilot. He served as a B-24 pilot and squadron commander in World War II in southern Italy where his squadron was able to immobilize several significant German targets. He returned to the Valley after the war. He served as County Judge of Hidalgo County and then Congressman from 1947-1955. After his third term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Bentsen left public office and began a career in business. He was a businessman in Houston, Texas for 16 years. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1970 as a Democrat, serving as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee beginning in 1987. In 1988, Senator Bentsen was the Democratic nominee for Vice President and served as Michael Dukakis’ running mate. Amazingly, Bentsen even received one electoral vote in the 1988 election. From 1993 to 1994, he served in the Cabinet of President Bill Clinton as the 69th Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Bentsen passed away May 23, 2006 at his home in Houston, Texas.