Joseph Franklin WILSON, Congress, TX (1901-1968)

WILSON, Joseph Franklin, a Representative from Texas; born in Corsicana, Navarro County, Tex., March 18, 1901; attended the elementary school at Corsicana; at the age of twelve moved to Memphis, Tex. (in the Panhandle), and attended the public schools until 1916; during the First World War enrolled at Peacock Military College, San Antonio, Tex., from September 1917 to June 1918 and at Tennessee Military Institute at Sweetwater from September 1918 to June 1919, advancing through the grades to first sergeant; graduated from Baylor University Law School, Waco, Tex., in 1923; was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Dallas, Tex.; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1936; chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee 1942-1945; district judge of the criminal district court of Texas in 1943 and 1944; elected as a Democrat to the Eightieth and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1947-January 3, 1955); was not a candidate for renomination in 1954; appointed judge of Criminal District Court No. 1, Dallas, Tex., in 1955, in which capacity he served until September 1968, when he retired due to illness; died in Dallas, Tex., October 13, 1968; interment in Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present