Jack M. Cox (August 20, 1921 – April 27, 1990)[1] was an oil equipment executive from Houston who was the 1962 Republicangubernatorialnominee in the U.S. state of Texas.
. . . Jack Cox (Texas politician) . . .
Cox was born in or near Breckenridge, the county seat of Stephens County in West Texas. He graduated from the University of North Texas at Denton. He was a U.S. Naval aviator in the Pacific theater during World War II. From 1947–1953, he served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives from District 108, which included Stephens County.[2][3]
In 1960, Cox, a “Shivercrat” ally of former Governor Allan Shivers, challenged the three-term governor, Marion Price Daniel Sr., of Liberty in southeastern Texas. Daniel was a veteran officeholder, having been a U.S. senator from 1953–1957. His wife and son, Price Daniel Jr., were direct descendants of the legendary Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas. Cox polled 619,834 votes (40.5 percent) in the Democratic primary, as Daniel prevailed with 908,992 votes (59.5 percent).[4] After defeating Cox, Daniel overwhelmed the Republican nominee, William M. Steger, a Dallas native who was later a U.S. District Court judge, appointed by U.S. PresidentRichard M. Nixon. The federal courthouse in downtown Tyler is named for Steger.[5]
In 1962, Daniel was eliminated in the primary for a fourth two-year term. John Connally, the former U.S. Navy secretary in the John F. Kennedy administration, waged the most active campaign of several Texas Democrats who challenged Daniel. For the primary alone, Connally traveled more than 22,000 miles, delivered forty-three major speeches, and appeared on various statewide and local telecasts.[6] In a closely matched runoff election, Connally defeated Don Yarborough, a liberalattorney from Houston, who carried the backing of organized labor.[6]
. . . Jack Cox (Texas politician) . . .