Speaker Ben Barnes Opens the 59th Texas Legislature (1965)

Duration: 0:05:05

Year Published: 1965

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: Born in 1938 in Gorman, Texas, Ben Barnes won a seat to the Texas House of Representatives while still a student at University of Texas Austin. In 1965, at the age of 26, Barnes was elected the youngest House speaker in state history. During his time as speaker, he prioritized the financial needs of the state's colleges and universities, helped pass legislation enforcing a minimum wage for farm laborers, and played a significant role in the passage of clean air and water legislation. This footage provides an insider's look at the 1965 swearing-in ceremony of the 59th Texas Legislature with Barnes as the newly elected speaker.