Downtown El Paso in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Robert Ewing Thomason

(May 30, 1879 - November 8, 1973)

Photographed By James Hulse, June 14, 2024

1. Robert Ewing Thomason Marker

Inscription. Robert Ewing Thomason was an El Paso attorney, state legislator, mayor, U.S. Congressman and Federal Judge who devoted more than fifty years of his life to public service. He earned a law degree from the University of Texas in 1900 and began his practice in Gainesville where he was elected district attorney and county attorney. In 1912, Thomason moved to El Paso, where he joined the law firm of Tom Lea Jr. Thomason served in the Texas Legislature from 1917 to 1921. He was elected Speaker of the House and helped secure Texas support for the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. He told fellow legislators "I want the American woman to walk by the side of the American man to the ballot box.

In 1927, Thomason was elected mayor of El Paso on a "Cleanup Government" ticket as mayor, he oversaw the construction of the first municipal airport. He was then elected to the U.S. Congress, where he served the 16th District from 1931 to 1947. He helped establish Big Bend National Park, and as a member of the House Committee on Military Affairs, oversaw the expansion of Fort Bliss, Biggs Army Air Field and William Beaumont General Hospital. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman appointed Thomason Federal Judge for the Western District of Texas. In this courthouse he presided over many landmark cases, including the Thelma White Desegregation

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Case (1955), Clinton Jencks Perjury Trial (1955), Bearden Plane Hijacking Case (1961), and Billie Sol Estes Fraud Trial (1963). Thomason died in 1973 at the age of 94, having served in all three branches of government.

Erected 2012 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17241.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 31° 45.543′ N, 106° 29.047′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. It is in Downtown El Paso. Marker is at the intersection of East San Antonio Avenue and South Campbell Street, on the right when traveling west on East San Antonio Avenue. The marker is located in front of the R.E. Thomason Federal Building and Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 511 E San Antonio Ave, El Paso TX 79901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Votes for Women (within shouting distance of this marker); Nine of Primitive El Paso's Patriotic Heroes (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Singer Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Martin Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Wesley Hardin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elite Confectionary (approx. 0.2 miles

The view of the Robert Ewing Thomason Marker along the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, June 14, 2024

2. The view of the Robert Ewing Thomason Marker along the street

away); Hotel Cortez (approx. ¼ mile away); The First United States Soldiers to Be Stationed at the Pass of the North (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Paso.

Also see . . . R. Ewing Thomason. Wikipedia

Robert Ewing Thomason known as R. Ewing Thomason (May 30, 1879 – November 8, 1973) was a Texas politician, a member and Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, the mayor of El Paso, a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

(Submitted on June 19, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Robert Ewing Thomason Marker in front of the R.E. Thomason Federal Building and Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, June 14, 2024

3. The Robert Ewing Thomason Marker in front of the R.E. Thomason Federal Building and Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.