Former Texas Lt. Governor
Ben Barnes
Notes from Evan Smith
"Ben Barnes was once a considered a rising-star in Texas politics after becoming a state representative at age 21. He remained a prominent political leader during the 1960s and 1970s.
Elected to the Texas House of Representatives when he was in his early 20's, he went on to become the youngest house speaker in Texas history. Barnes did not limit his involvement to just Texas politics.
He was a member of President Johnson’s Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, U.S. representative to the NATO Conference in 1967, and United Nations Representative to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968.
In 1969, Barnes was elected lieutenant governor of Texas and served from 1969 to 1973.
Since leaving elective office, Barnes has become a successful business executive and civic leader. He is the founder of Entrecorp, a business consulting and lobbying firm. He has served as a consultant, director or chairman of more than two dozen companies, including SBC, American Airlines, Dallas Bank and Trust, Grumman Systems Support Corporation, Laredo National Bank and the Barnes/Connally Partnership.
Barnes has been active in a number of community service organizations, including the People's Community Clinic, the Boys and Girls Club, the LBJ Library and School of Public Affairs, the Huntington Art Gallery and the Longhorn Foundation.
His honors include the UT Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor (1993), recognition as one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Men in America" by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce (1965), and two honorary law degrees (McMurray University and Texas Tech)." - Evan Smith, Texas Monthly Talks, Broadcast 2.19.04
