Morgan G. Sanders

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of Morgan G. Sanders. Born near Ben Wheeler, right here in Van Zandt County, Morgan Gurley Sanders came up through the kind of work that builds a man's résumé one hard skill at a time.

He published newspapers. He clerked for the state senate journal. He earned his way into the State Bar of Texas.

And then, once he had all that in his pocket, he went and won himself a seat in the state legislature. Now, that's a foundation. That is a foundation.

He served as a state legislator from 1903 to 1907, running as a Democrat, which in those days in East Texas was about as natural as a river running downhill. He wasn't done, not even close. He came back as Van Zandt County attorney from 1911 to 1915, stepped up to district attorney from 1915 to 1917, and then set his sights on Washington.

Morgan Sanders went to Congress in 1921 and held that seat all the way to 1939. Eighteen years as a U.S. Congressman, and the whole time he kept practicing law on the side, because some men simply cannot sit still.

Now here's the moment the marker wants you to notice. In 1931, Speaker of the House John Nance Garner, one of the most powerful men in American politics, appointed Sanders to his previous position on the ways and means committee. The ways and means committee.

That is not a consolation prize. That is where the serious business gets done. Sanders had been there before, and Garner put him back.

That tells you something about how the man was regarded. But 1938 came, and with it an election Sanders did not win. His seat was gone.

Through all of it, the politics, the law, the long years in Washington, Sanders lived a life that was, by any measure, eventful on the personal side too. He was twice widowed and married three times. And after everything, he came back to Van Zandt County, stayed active, and remained so until his death.

Born near Ben Wheeler. Ended near where he started. Some roads, they circle back.

What the marker says

Legislator Morgan Gurley Sanders was born near Ben Wheeler. He published newspapers, worked as journal clerk of the state senate and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas before winning a seat in the state legislature. His public service as a democratic politician included terms as a state legislator (1903-07), Van Zandt County attorney (1911-15), district attorney (1915-17) and U.S. Congressman (1921-39); he also continued to practice law. In 1931, Speaker of the House John Nance Garner appointed Sanders to his previous position on the powerful ways and means committee. Sanders lost his seat in a 1938 election. Twice widowed and married three times, he remained active in Van Zandt County until his death.