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'Tommy Joe Vandergriff ' (born January 29, 1926) is the recently retired county judge for Tarrant County, Texas.
He served as Mayor of Arlington from 1951 to 1977 and as a U.S. Congressman from the 26th Texas Congressional District from 1983-1985.
He is best known as being influential in bringing Major League Baseball to North Texas; While serving as mayor of Arlington, Texas he convinced the Washington Senators franchise owner Robert Short to relocate his Washington Senators baseball team to Arlington. In the early days of the Rangers, Tom also served as a broadcaster for the team as well.

Contents

Political career

Mayor of Arlington, 1951-1977

US House of Representatives

County Judge

Non-political career

Texas Rangers

Businesses

See also

For Further Reading

References

Political career

Mayor of Arlington, 1951-1977

During his 26 years as Mayor of Arlington, Tom Vandergriff brought a General Motors assembly plant into Arlington, 1953,^[2] convinced the Washington Senators to move to Arlington and become the Texas Rangers, 1972,^[3] saw Arlington State College elevated to University status and became the University of Texas at Arlington,Texas House Resolution 18 "Commending the Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff of Arlington on the occasion of his retirement as Tarrant County judge" adopted May 4, 2007, retrieved July 72007 helped create the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport,Texas House Resolution 18 "Commending the Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff of Arlington on the occasion of his retirement as Tarrant County judge" adopted May 4, 2007, retrieved July 72007 and saw his city grow from about 8,000 people to over 120,000.Texas House Resolution 18 "Commending the Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff of Arlington on the occasion of his retirement as Tarrant County judge" adopted May 4, 2007, retrieved July 72007

US House of Representatives

Tom Vandergriff was elected to the newly formed Texas 26th Congressional District and represented Arlington from 1983-1985.Congressional biography from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

County Judge

Tom Vandergriff served 4 terms as County Judge^[4] for Tarrant County, from 1991 until 2007.Texas House Resolution 18 "Commending the Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff of Arlington on the occasion of his retirement as Tarrant County judge" adopted May 4, 2007, retrieved July 72007

Non-political career

Texas Rangers

As Mayor, Tom Vandergriff brought the newly renamed Texas Rangers to Arlington. He served as a TV broadcaster from 1975 to 1977^[5] and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.^[6]

Businesses

Tom Vandergriff worked in his family's businesses including a chain of car dealerships.^[7]

See also

★ Arlington, Texas

★ Texas Rangers (baseball)

★ 98th United States Congress

For Further Reading

★ The North Texas Commission, Judge Tom Vandergriff Named Regional Champion, retrieved July 72007, includes extended list of political achievements

References

1. Elected Officials Representing Tarrant County as of January 1, 2005, retrieved July 72007
2. General Motors Celebrates 50 Years In Arlington, retrieved July 72007
3.
TEXAS RANGERS

4. Smith, Dick, ''The Texas Handbook Online'', County Judge, retrieved July 72007
5. Rangers Broadcasters, retrieved July 72007
6. The Official Site of the Texas Rangers: History: Rangers Hall of Famers, retrieved July 72007
7. Vandergriff, W. T. (William Thomas), 1902-1992, Hooker Vandergriff Family Collection, 1935-1998, bulk 939-1986, available from the University of Texas at Arlington Library's archives. Web site retrieved July 72007.