Former Governor Dolph Briscoe Dies

UVALDE, Texas (AP) _ Former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe has died at his Uvalde home at the age of 87.

A family spokeswoman says the rancher, banker and lifelong Democrat died Sunday after a lengthy illness. Ann Arnold says Briscoe had been hospitalized in January and had returned home only recently. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Briscoe had been governor from 1972 through 1978, presiding over Texas during an oil and gas boom before suffering a stunning Democratic primary upset in 1978 to Attorney General John Hill. Hill went on to lose to Republican Bill Clements, who became the first Republican Texas governor since Reconstruction.

Briscoe considered a comeback race for governor in 1982, but instead supported Attorney General Mark White, the Democrat who went on to defeat Clements.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry is remembering former Democratic Gov. Dolph Briscoe as “a friend, a mentor and an inspiration.”

Perry says Briscoe “understood the importance of limited government and low taxes as a way to guard individual liberty.”

Perry says he will miss Briscoe’s friendship and counsel.

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