Bill Clayton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 14, 1975 – January 11, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Price Daniel Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Gib Lewis |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 8, 1963 – January 11, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Max Carriker (91st district) |
| Succeeded by | Bob Valles (74th district) |
| Constituency | 91st district (1963–1967) 78th district (1967–1969) 72nd district (1969–1973) 74th district (1973–1983) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 11, 1928 Olney, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 2007 (aged 78) Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Springlake Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican (after 1985) Democratic (before 1985) |
| Spouse |
Delma Dennis (m. 1950) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Farmer Businessman Lobbyist |
Bill Wayne Clayton, sometimes known as Billy Clayton (September 11, 1928 – January 6, 2007), was an American politician from West Texas who served as a state legislator for twenty years and was Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983, a tenure twice as long as that of any other presiding officer of the house elected before him. A Conservative Democrat from a rural area of the Texas South Plains, Clayton attained the speakership by successfully forging a broad-based House coalition. He was considered one of the most influential legislators - and, after he left the chamber, lobbyists - in modern Texas history.