James V. Allred

James Burr V. Allred was the 33rd governor of Texas. He later served, twice, as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Early life

Born on March 29, 1899, in Bowie, Texas, the son of Renne Allred Sr. and Mary Magdalene, Allred graduated from Bowie High School in 1917. He enrolled at Rice Institute but withdrew for financial reasons. He then served with the United States Immigration Service. Allred served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919. In 1921, he received a Bachelor of Laws from Cumberland School of Law.

Allred began a private law practice in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1921. From 1923 to 1926, he served as district attorney in the city. He returned to private practice in 1926 before becoming Attorney General of Texas in 1931.

Allred was elected Governor of Texas in the 1934 gubernatorial election and served until 1939. He was an ardent Democrat and supporter of the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Allred received a recess appointment to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on July 11, 1938, but he declined the appointment.
On January 5, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Allred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, to a new seat authorized by 52 Stat. 584. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 16, 1939, and received his commission on February 23, 1939. His service ended on May 15, 1942, due to his resignation.
Allred was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate from Texas in 1942 [United States Senate elections|1942]. He then returned to private practice in Houston, Texas, from 1943 to 1949.
Allred was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on September 23, 1949, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, to a new seat authorized by 63 Stat. 493. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 12, 1949, and received his commission on October 13, 1949.

During a court session on September 24, 1959, Allred called recess at 11:00a.m. due to feeling ill. He entered Mercy Hospital in Laredo, Texas, where he died at 4:50p.m. from a coronary occlusion. His funeral, held at Wichita Falls Christian Church on September 28, 1959, was visited by Governor Price Daniel, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Ralph Yarborough, Representative Homer Thornberry, and former Governor Dan Moody.