Robert Allan Shivers

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Texas. Governor Allan Shivers who served in the army during World War II and achieved rank of Major and later served three terms as governor of the state of Texas. Obituary: ALLAN SHIVERS OF TEXAS DEAD; WAS GOVERNOR IN THE 1950'S
By GLENN FOWLER
Published: January 15, 1985
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Allan Shivers, who was Governor of Texas from 1949 to 1957, longer than any other chief executive of the state, died yesterday of a heart attack. He was 77 years old and lived in Austin.

Mr. Shivers, a maverick Democrat who was prone to bolt his party to support Republican candidates, had pursued varied business interests since retiring from elective office. He was stricken while at work in his office at the InterFirst Bank Austin, formerly the Austin National Bank, of which he was chairman. He died early in the evening at the Seton Medical Center.

Mr. Shivers's civic experience included six years on the Board of Regents of the University of Texas, four of those years as chairman, and he served a term as president of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Support of Eisenhower

In a political career that began with his election to the Texas Senate in 1935, Mr. Shivers developed into a leader of the Democrats' conservative wing. While Governor he endorsed Dwight D. Eisenhower for President and delivered the state for him in the 1952 election. General Eisenhower's opponent, Adlai E. Stevenson, had refused to support Texas's claim to Gulf of Mexico tidelands.

Mr. Shivers also backed Richard M. Nixon for the Presidency 20 years later.

A dedicated conservative, Mr. Shivers inevitably came into conflict with two liberal Texas Democrats, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and House Speaker Sam Rayburn. In 1956 he fought the future President and Rayburn for control of the Texas delegation to the Democratic National Convention and the ''Shivercrats'' lost. In 1960, however, he endorsed Johnson for President.

He Succeeded to Governorship

Robert Allan Shivers - he never used his first name - was born on Oct. 5, 1907, in Lufkin, Tex. He received bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Texas and immediately entered politics as the assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Texas House, a post suited to his 6-foot 2-inch, 200-pound build. Two years later, in 1935, he was elected to the State Senate, where he served until he became lieutenant governor in 1947.

Mr. Shivers was in his second term when, in July 1949, Gov. Beauford Jester died suddenly. Succeeding to the post, Mr. Shivers quickly came into his own, taking charge of the Democratic Party organization and expanding services in several fields, including mental health, education and prison administration.

Completing an unprecedented three terms as Governor, Mr. Shivers returned to private life to look after extensive property holdings, including a citrus and vegetable farm inherited by his wife, the former Marialice Shary.

For many years Mr. Shivers operated Western Pipe Line Inc., a construction concern with extensive operations in the United States and Canada. He was a director of several Texas banks and a number of industrial corporations.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a sister, Maureen Wilson of Pottsboro, Tex.; three sons, John of Fort Worth, Allan Jr. of Austin and Bryan of Dallas; a daughter, Marialice Ferguson of Houston, and 10 grandchildren.

Please search FBI, CIA, State Department and US military intelligence records.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Leslie Sharp