AUSTIN — Former Texas Gov. Mark White, whose single term in Austin had an enduring legacy for the school children of his state, died Saturday at his home in Houston.

He was 77.

White, a Democrat, was one of the leaders who headed the party's ticket in 1982 when it swept all statewide offices and turned out of office the first Republican to win the Texas governorship since Reconstruction.

As the state's chief executive, White championed a controversial list of education reforms that reshaped Texas public schools and thrust phrases such as "no-pass, no-play" into the state's lexicon by requiring high school athletes to meet minimum grade standards to stay eligible for interscholastic sports and other extra curricular activities.

The reforms, highly controversial at the time, along with a major tax increase to offset a budget shortfall, were considered factors when White was ousted from office after four years. But his Democratic colleagues from that era praised White for his political courage and foresight.

"Mark White was one of Texas' greatest governors," said former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, who called the education reforms one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in modern Texas history. "We were close friends for many years."

Former Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, who along with Ann Richards (state treasurer), Jim Mattox (attorney general) and former U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen joined White and Hobby on the 1982 Democratic ticket, praised the former governor as a forward-looking thinker.

"What a lot of folks don't remember is that Mark was the one who first started thinking about Texas competing for high-tech jobs with Silicon Valley," Mauro said. "I think you could make the case that Mark White is the father of the microchip industry in Texas."

According to White's website, he was born in the East Texas town of Henderson and graduated from Baylor University Law School in 1965. He also served in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard.

After practicing law in the private sector, White was appointed Texas secretary of state in 1973 by then-Gov. Dolph Briscoe and remained in the post for four years. In 1978, he ran for Texas attorney general and ran TV ads of a slamming prison door to burnish tough-on-crime credentials, even though the office he would win had little prosecutorial authority.

White went on to defeat Republican James A. Baker III, who later became U.S. secretary of state under President George H. W. Bush.

In the 1982 race for governor, White unseated Bill Clements, a Dallas millionaire who shocked the Texas political establishment four years earlier by breaking the Democrats' century-long stranglehold on the Governor's Mansion.

“I don't think anybody had more of an uphill battle than I did,” White told the El Paso Times in a 2010 interview, adding that the pundits “never gave me a chance to win in any of my elections.”

Four years later, Clements took revenge by wresting the office away from White.

A comeback bid in 1990 fell short when Democrats made Richards their nominee. She won, but no Democrat has held the office since.

White remained active in Democratic politics in retirement. And just days before his death, he issued an endorsement statement for Alex Triantaphyllis, who is seeking to oust Republican U.S. Rep John Culberson of Houston.

"I know he will champion the issues I fought for here in Texas: supporting small business growth, fixing our broken immigration system, and expanding access to quality education for all Texas children,” White said Aug. 1 on the candidate's web page.

Democratic state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin said he and White talked by phone on Friday about Texas politics and their shared alma mater, Baylor.

"I was lucky to learn from him, be able to seek advice from him and to have him as a friend," Watson said. "I'm going to miss picking up the phone and hearing that deep, welcoming voice."

State District Judge Bill Moody of El Paso was appointed to the bench by White. Moody said he was still in law school when he first met White in the 1970s and later was his point man in El Paso during the 1982 campaign.

"I'm probably the last Mark White appointee still holding office," said Moody, whose son, Joe Moody, serves in the Texas House. "He was an impressive man with a wonderful sense of humor."

White's wife, Linda Gale White, and his son Andrew White confirmed the governor's death to The Associated Press. There was no immediate word on services.

Current Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said he and White developed a friendship when they both practiced law in Houston.

"Mark White cared deeply about Texas," said Abbott, who ordered flags around the state to fly at half staff. "And he devoted his life to making our state even better, particularly when it came to educating our children. My personal relationship and friendship with Governor White dates to when I was a young lawyer in Houston and we shared an elevator bank.

“Mark’s impact on Texas will not soon be forgotten, and his legacy will live on through all that he achieved as governor."

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him atJohn.Moritz@caller.com and follow him on Twitter@JohnnieMo.



