Archie Parr | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 23rd district | |
| In office January 1915 – 1934 | |
| Duval County Commissioner | |
| In office 1908 – 1914 or earlier | |
| In office 1896–1906 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 25, 1860 (some sources say 1859) Matagorda Island in Calhoun County, Texas |
| Died | October 18, 1942 (aged 81) Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Resting place | Benavides Cemetery 27°35′32″N 98°24′44″W / 27.59221°N 98.41209°W |
| Political party |
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| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth "Lizzie" Allen, m. 1891 |
| Children |
|
| Parent | George Berham Parr (1829–1867)
Sarah Pamela (Givens) Parr (1837-1918) |
| Education | third grade |
| [1][2][3] | |
Archer "Archie" Parr (December 25, 1860 or 1859[2] – October 18, 1942), was a Texas cattle rancher and politician, who was nicknamed "the Duke of Duval County", where he was the local Democratic Party political boss. Beginning in 1914, Parr was elected to the Texas State Senate for numerous consecutive terms, serving nearly two decades, from 1915 to 1934. He had previously been elected as country commissioner, serving for a decade after repeated re-election. He amassed a great fortune through his career.
Anglo in ancestry, Parr spoke Spanish and acted as a patron, developing a power base among the Mexican Americans who constituted the majority of residents in the county. He retained their favor by supporting his constituents, showing sensitivity to their customs, and sometimes making cash payments. Parr controlled the party machine in the county. By his death in 1942, his son, George Parr, had taken it over, keeping control until 1975.