Jim Chapman
Encyclopedia
James Louis "Jim" Chapman (born March 8, 1945 in Washington, D.C.
) is an American business and political leader. From 1985 to 1997, he served as Democratic
Congressman representing the Texas's 1st congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
. His home town was Sulphur Springs
.
(1968) and a law degree from the Southern Methodist University
School of Law in Dallas, Texas
(1970).
After a stint in private practice, Chapman became the District Attorney
for the Eighth Judicial District of Texas
(1976–1985), during which time he achieved a 99 percent conviction record and a national reputation as a tough, law and order
prosecutor. Chapman served in leadership roles with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association
and the National District Attorneys Association. Later, he set up his own practice and was senior partner of the law firm of Chapman, Price, Hughes & Bauer. He also became chairman of a local community bank.
. He defeated the Republican
choice, Edd Hargett
, a former professional football
player. Chapman was reelected to the five succeeding Congresses (August 3, 1985–January 3, 1997). He was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fifth Congress in 1996, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate
.
While in Congress, Chapman served four years on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
, which sets committee assignments and the legislative agenda for the caucus. He also served as chairman of the Texas Democratic congressional delegation and as a member of the Democratic Whip organization.
Chapman served on the House Appropriations Committee, working on numerous projects including restoration and development of an Army Corps of Engineers-maintained East Texas lake called Cooper Lake, located between Cooper
and Sulphur Springs
. In honor of his work, Congress later enacted legislation formally renaming the lake as "Jim Chapman Lake
." Prior to his service on the Appropriations Committee, he served on the Public Works and Transportation Committee
; Small Business Committee
; and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
. He helped organize, and is a partner in, the firm's Homeland Security Practice. His expertise includes appropriations and budget matters, taxation, healthcare, energy, environment, communications and high technology.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is an American business and political leader. From 1985 to 1997, he served as Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman representing the Texas's 1st congressional district
Texas's 1st congressional district
Texas's First congressional district in the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves the northeastern portion of the state of Texas. As of the 2000 Census, the First District represents 651,619 people...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. His home town was Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs, Texas
Sulphur Springs is a city in Hopkins County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,551. It is the county seat of Hopkins County.-Geography:Sulphur Springs is located at ....
.
Early life
Chapman attended public schools in Sulphur Springs; he received an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
(1968) and a law degree from the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
School of Law in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
(1970).
After a stint in private practice, Chapman became the District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for the Eighth Judicial District of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(1976–1985), during which time he achieved a 99 percent conviction record and a national reputation as a tough, law and order
Law and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
prosecutor. Chapman served in leadership roles with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association
Texas District and County Attorneys Association
The Texas District and County Attorneys Association, or TDCAA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Texas prosecutors and attorneys in government representation...
and the National District Attorneys Association. Later, he set up his own practice and was senior partner of the law firm of Chapman, Price, Hughes & Bauer. He also became chairman of a local community bank.
Congressional career
Chapman was elected in 1985 as a Democrat in the 99th Congress during a highly visible special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Representative Sam B. HallSam B. Hall
Sam Blakeley Hall, Jr. , American politician, was a Congressman representing Texas's 1st congressional district from 1976 to 1985 and then a federal judge of the U.S...
. He defeated the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
choice, Edd Hargett
Edd Hargett
Edward Eugene Hargett is a former American football quarterback for Texas A&M University who went on to play professionally for the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers. He later played for the Shreveport Steamer of the World Football League.Edd passed for 5379 yards in his 3 year career ...
, a former professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. Chapman was reelected to the five succeeding Congresses (August 3, 1985–January 3, 1997). He was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fifth Congress in 1996, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
While in Congress, Chapman served four years on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
Steering and Policy Committee of the United States House of Representatives
In the United States House of Representatives, the House Democratic Caucus includes a Steering and Policy Committee. Its primary purpose is to assign fellow party members to other House committees, and it also advises party leaders on policy...
, which sets committee assignments and the legislative agenda for the caucus. He also served as chairman of the Texas Democratic congressional delegation and as a member of the Democratic Whip organization.
Chapman served on the House Appropriations Committee, working on numerous projects including restoration and development of an Army Corps of Engineers-maintained East Texas lake called Cooper Lake, located between Cooper
Cooper, Texas
Cooper is a city in Delta County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,150 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Delta County. Cooper proclaims itself to be the "Vetch Capital of the World".-Geography:...
and Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs may refer to the following locations:*United States:**Sulphur Springs, Arkansas**Sulphur Springs, Indiana**Sulphur Springs, Missouri**Sulphur Springs, Ohio**Sulphur Springs, Tampa, Florida**Sulphur Springs, Texas...
. In honor of his work, Congress later enacted legislation formally renaming the lake as "Jim Chapman Lake
Jim Chapman Lake
Jim Chapman Lake is a impoundment operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and is located east of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in the state of Texas, USA. The lake is fed by the South Sulphur River, a fork of the Sulphur River, and provides water supply storage for the North Texas Municipal...
." Prior to his service on the Appropriations Committee, he served on the Public Works and Transportation Committee
United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
; Small Business Committee
United States House Committee on Small Business
The United States House Committee on Small Business is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.-History:On December 4, 1941, the U. S...
; and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Current work
Chapman currently practices law in the Washington and Austin offices of the Houston-based law firm Bracewell & GiulianiBracewell & Giuliani
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is an international law firm based in Houston, Texas, that began in 1945. The firm has over 470 lawyers, and has United States offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Hartford, San Antonio, Seattle, Dallas, and Austin, and overseas offices in Dubai, and London...
. He helped organize, and is a partner in, the firm's Homeland Security Practice. His expertise includes appropriations and budget matters, taxation, healthcare, energy, environment, communications and high technology.