Thomas Whitfield Davidson

For other people named Thomas Davidson, see Thomas Davidson (disambiguation).

Thomas Whitfield Davidson (September 23, 1876 – January 26, 1974) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Thomas Whitfield Davidson
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
In office November 1, 1965 – January 26, 1974
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
In office 1954–1959
Preceded by	William H. Atwell
Succeeded by	Joseph Brannon Dooley
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
In office February 5, 1936 – November 1, 1965
Appointed by	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Edward Roscoe Meek
Succeeded by	William McLaughlin Taylor Jr.
27th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office January 16, 1923 – January 20, 1925
Governor	Pat Morris Neff
Preceded by	Lynch Davidson
Succeeded by	Barry Miller
Personal details
Born	Thomas Whitfield Davidson (1876-09-23)September 23, 1876 Harrison County, Texas
Died	January 26, 1974(1974-01-26) (aged 97)
Education	read law

Education and career

Born in Harrison County, Texas, Davidson read law to enter the bar in 1903.^[1] He briefly attended East Texas State Normal College (now Texas A&M University–Commerce) before studying at the University of Chicago and then Columbia University.^[2] He was in private practice in Marshall, Texas from 1903 to 1907. He was the city attorney of Marshall 1907 to 1914, thereafter resuming his private practice in Dallas, Texas until 1920. Davidson was a member of the Texas Senate from 1920 to 1922, and was lieutenant governor of Texas from 1923 to 1925 serving under Governor Pat Morris Neff. He then returned to private practice in Dallas until 1936.^[1]

Federal judicial service

On January 22, 1936, Davidson was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated by Judge Edward Roscoe Meek. Davidson was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 1936, and received his commission on February 5, 1936. He served as Chief Judge from 1954 to 1959, and assumed senior status on November 1, 1965, holding that position until his death on January 26, 1974.^[1]

References

1. Thomas Whitfield Davidson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. La Forte, Robert S. (2003). "Lieutenant Governors: Thomas W. Davidson". The Texas Politics Project. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 10, 2016.

Sources

• Thomas Whitfield Davidson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Party political offices
Preceded by Lynch Davidson	Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Texas 1922	Succeeded by Barry Miller
Political offices
Preceded by Lynch Davidson	Lieutenant Governor of Texas 1923–1925	Succeeded by Barry Miller
Legal offices
Preceded by Edward Roscoe Meek	Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas 1936–1965	Succeeded by William McLaughlin Taylor Jr.
Preceded by William H. Atwell	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas 1954–1959	Succeeded by Joseph Brannon Dooley