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MARVIN D. LEATH Member of Congress 1979-1991

Biography Photographs Scope and Content Series Outline Obituaries Preliminary Inventory 1979-1981 (.pdf) 3D Materials Inventory (.pdf) Preliminary Inventory Box 1-160 (.pdf) Papers Closed Until Processed

Congressman Marvin Leath, 1931-2000 Marvin Leath, a conservative Democrat who founded Congress's "Boll Weevil" faction and served on the House Armed Services Committee died on December 8th, 2000 in Arlington, Virginia. Former Congressman Leath, who had been a 1950s college football star, was 69 years old. Born in the Rusk County town of Henderson, Texas in 1931, James Marvin Leath was born into a family whose modest circumstances sent him to work in the oil fields of East Texas while he was still in his teens. A multi talented youth, Leath was an talented country singer who worked days beside his father in the oil fields and at night as an opener for such stars as cowboy crooner Marty Robbins. Leath's prowess as a high school athlete earned him a scholarship to the University of Texas, where he proved one of college football's foremost defensive linemen. During his junior year at the university, Leath helped lead the Longhorns to victory in the 1953 Cotton Bowl. He graduated the following year with a bachelors degree in business administration and enlisted in the US Army, where he served from 1954-56, leaving the service as a first lieutenant. Returning to Rusk County after his military service, Leath coached high school football before launching a successful career in banking, developing 4 privately owned banks between the 1960s and 70s. Established in his community as a bank owner and president, Leath took his first public service position in 1972 when he was appointed special assistant to Democratic Representative W.R. Poage. Leath worked with Poage until 1974 and 4 years later made a successful run for the 11th District seat in Texas for the US House of Representatives. The 11th district includes Fort Hood, one of the nation's largest military installations, and during his 10 years at Congress, Leath helped to secure a total of nearly $1 billion in funding for the fort, which is one of the Lone Star State's largest employers. At Congress, Leath served as a member of the House Budget Committee, as the chairman of that panel's subcommittee on foreign affairs and defense, and served on the House Armed Services Committee. Leath also was a founder of the Conservative Democratic Party faction known as "The Boll Weevils", which made bipartisan alliance with Republicans on House budget and spending issues. A supporter of arms controls and proponent of plans to monitor Pentagon purchasing, Leath was a popular figure at the House and in his district, where he was reelected consistently with better than a 90% vote margin. Leath retired from Politics in 1991 to found the Washington, DC based Marvin Leath Associates, a consulting firm representing interests of military contractors. Former Representative Leath was hospitalized in December following a heart attack he suffered at his McLean, Virginia home, and died on December 8th, 2000 at Arlington Hospital in Arlington, Virginia. Twice divorced, Marvin Leath is survived by his son Thomas Leath of Dallas, Texas.   If you would like to learn more about events related to Congressman Leath's life, we recommend Hook 'Em Horns : A Story of Texas Football Football Powers of the South : Texas Longhorns The Essential Marty Robbins: 1951-1982 Roughnecks, Drillers, and Tool Pushers : Thirty-Three Years in the Oil Fields

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