See the history of the death penalty by the Death Penalty Information Center
1632
Jane Champion executed by hanging in James City, Virginia
The era of death by HANGING in Texas
1846
J. Pinckney Henderson is governor from February 19, 1846 - December 21, 1847
1848
J. Pinckney Henderson is governor until December 21
George T. Wood is governor from December 21, 1847 - December 21, 1849
"An Act to Establish A State Penitentiary"
Treaty of Guadalupe y Hidalgo
1849
George T. Wood is governor until December 21
Peter Hansbrough Bell is governor from December 21, 1849 - November 23, 1853
1850
Governor Peter Hansbrough Bell
1851
Governor Peter Hansbrough Bell
1852
Governor Peter Hansbrough Bell
1853
Governor Peter Hansbrough Bell until November 23, 1853
J. W. Henderson is governor from November 23 to December 21
Elisha Marshall Pease is governor from December 21, 1853 to December 21, 1857
Execution by hanging of Jane Elkins in Dallas. Jane Elkins was an enslaved woman convicted of murder.
1854
Governor Elisha Marshall Pease
1855
Governor Elisha Marshall Pease
1856
Governor Elisha Marshall Pease
1857
Elisha Marshall Pease is governor until December 21, 1857
Hardin Richard Runnels is governor from December 21, 1857, until December 21, 1859
1858
Governor Hardin Richard Runnels
1859
Hardin Richard Runnels is governor until December 21
Sam Houston is governor from December 21, 1859 until March 16, 1861
1860
Sam Houston is governor
1861
Sam Houston is governor until March 16, when he was removed from office because of his refusal to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy.
Edward Clark is installed as governor on March 16, a position he holds until November 7
Francis Richard Lubbock becomes governor (through an election)
1862
Francis Richard Lubbock is governor
1863
Francis Richard Lubbock is governor until November 5, 1863
Pendleton Murrah is governor from November 5, 1863, until June 17, 1865
Execution by hanging of Josefa “Chipita” Rodríguez
1864
Pendleton Murrah is governor
1865
Pendleton Murrach is governor until June 17
Andrew Jackson Hamilton becomes governor on June 17 and lasts until August 9, 1866
1866
Andrew Jackson Hamilton is governor until August 9
James Webb Throckmorton is governor from August 9, 1866 until August 8, 1867
1867
James Webb Throckmorton is governor until August 8
Elisha Marshall Peasebecomes governor for a second time
1868
Elisha Marshall Pease is governor
1869
Elisha Marshall Pease is governor until September 30
1870
Edmund Jackson Davis becomes governor on January 8 and remains governor until January 15, 1874
1871
Governor Edmund Jackson Davis
1872
Governor Edmund Jackson Davis
1873
Governor Edmund Jackson Davis
1874
Edmund Jackson Davis is governor until January 15
Richard Coke becomes governor on January 15 and holds the position until December 1, 1876
1875
Governor Richard Coke
1876
Richard Coke is governor until December 1
Richard Bennett Hubbard, Jr. is governor from December 1, 1876, until January 21, 1879
1877
1878
Governor Richard Bennett Hubbard, Jr.
1879
Richard Bennett Hubbard, Jr., is governor until January 21
Oran Milo Roberts is governor from January 21, 1879 until January 16, 1883
1880
Governor Oran Milo Roberts
1881
Governor Oran Milo Roberts
1882 - 1930 According to the Handbook of Texas Online, 492 lynchings took place in Texas between 1882 and 1930
1882
Governor Oran Milo Roberts
1883
Oran Milo Roberts is governor until January 16
John Ireland is governor from January 16, 1883 to January 18, 1887
January - State of Texas begins taking convicts into its second penitentiary, Rusk
1884
Governor John Ireland
1885
Governor John Ireland
1886
Governor John Ireland
1887
John Ireland is governor until January 18
Lawrence Sullivan Ross is governor from January 18, 1887 until January 20, 1891
1888
Governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross
1889
Governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross
1890
Governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross
First use of electric chair in the U.S.
1891
Lawrence Sullivan Ross is governor until January 20
James Stephen Hogg becomes governor and lasts until January 15, 1895
1892
Governor James Stephen Hogg
1893
Governor James Stephen Hogg
1894
Governor James Stephen Hogg
1895
James Stephen Hogg is governor until January 15
Charles Allen Culberson is governor from January 15, 1895 until January 17, 1899
1896
Governor Charles Allen Culberson
1897
Governor Charles Allen Culberson
1898
Governor Charles Allen Culberson
1899
Charles Allen Culberson is governor until January 17
Joseph Draper Sayers is governor from January 17, 1899 to January 20, 1903
1900
Governor Joseph Draper Sayers
1901
Governor Joseph Draper Sayers
1902
Governor Joseph Draper Sayers
1903
Joseph Draper Sayers is governor until January 20
Samuel Willis Tucker Lanham, governor January 20, 1903 - January 15, 1907
1904
Governor Samuel Willis Lanham
1905
Governor Samuel Willis Lanham
1906
Governor Samuel Willis Lanham
1907
Samuel Willis Lanham is governor until January 15
Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell, January 15, 1907 - January 17, 1911
1908
Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell
1909
Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell
1910
Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell
Mexican Revolution begins
1911
Thomas Mitchell Campbell is governor until January 17
Oscar Branch Colquitt, governor January 17, 1911 - January 19 ,1915
The San Antonio Light reports that Charles "Becker Dies Asserting He Is Innocent" over the protests of his wife, in Sing Sing Prison, Ossining, New York. July 30, 1915.
Three men executed by electric chair in Sing Sing, Ossining, New York, on November 20, “Sing Sing is Scene of Triple Execution – First Time in Twenty Years That Three Men Met Death on the Same Day – 23 Minutes’ Time is Used – Story of Crimes That Led to Conviction of the Men for Murder,” Associated Press, in San Antonio Light, November 20, 1911
The State of Virginia executes Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., on November 24, 1911. See "Beattie Electrocuted, Confesses His Guilt - Young Wife Murderer Paid Penalty of Crime in Electric Chair at 7:23 a.m.," Wichita Daily Times, Wichita Falls, Texas, November 24, 1911, page 1.
1912
Governor Oscar Branch Colquitt
1913
Governor Oscar Branch Colquitt
1914
Governor Oscar Branch Colquitt
1915
Oscar Branch Colquitt is governor until January 19
Governor James E. Ferguson, January 19, 1915 - August 15, 1917
Henry Bookman is executed by the electric chair in Oklahoma. See “Negro First Victim of Electric Chair, Initial Electrocution in Oklahoma Held Under New Law,” San Antonio Light, December 10, 1915
Signing of Plan de San Diego
1916
Governor James E. Ferguson
May 15, 1916 A white mob of about 400 people lynched Jesse Washington, a seventeen-year old Black youth, in Waco. Souvenir postcards cost ten cents. The NACCP investigated and cited this, "the Waco Horror," in its campaign for a federal anti-lynching law.
1917
James E. Ferguson is governor until August 25, when he is removed from office after impeachment
Governor William Pettus Hobby, August 25, 1917 - January 18, 1921
1918
Governor William Pettus Hobby
January - The The Porvenir Massacre
1919
Governor William Pettus Hobby
1920
Governor William Pettus Hobby
1921
William Pettus Hobby is governor until January 18
Governor Pat Morris Neff (D), January 18, 1921 - January 20, 1925
Sometime between 1921 and 1924 Governor Pat Neff grants execute clemency to Pedro Sánchez, commuting Sánchez's sentence to life, following the intervention of Cruz Azul Mexicana, other mutualistas, San Antonio Mayor O.B. Black, and the Mexican Consulate. Sánchez was facing death by hanging for allegedly killing a jailer while incarcerated in the Falls county jail in Marlin (Acosta).
1922
Governor Pat Morris Neff
1923
Governor Pat Morris Neff
The era of the ELECTRIC CHAIR begins in Texas
The 38th Texas Legislature, in its second called session, passes a law providing that the mode of execution in Texas be electrocution, rather than hanging, and that all executions would take place in Huntsville, rather than in the counties of conviction.
The Texas Legislature also enacts a statute explicitly barring Black people from voting in the Democratic Party primary, ratifying the white primary, which survives numerous legal challenges until the U.S. Supreme Court's 1944 decision in
Smith v. Allbright, 321 U.S. 649
1924 The State of Texas electrocutes thirteen (13) men
Twelve (12) of these men were Black and one (1) was "Hispanic."
Governor Pat Morris Neff
February 8 - Charles Reynolds - Black - Red River
February 8 - Ewell Morris - Black - Liberty
February 8 - George Washington - Black - Newton
February 8 - Mack Matthews - Black - Tyler
February 8 - Melvin Johnson - Black - Red River
March 28 - Blaine Dyer - Black - Dallas
March 28 - Earnest Lawson - Black - Dallas
April 4 - Booker Williams - Black - Angelina
April 17 - Tommie Curry - Black - Smith
May 22 - Harle Humphreys - Black - Falls
May 23 - Frank Cadena - Hispanic - Bexar
June 9 - Ed Henderson - Black - Polk
October 10 - Ed Kirby - Black -Colorado
1925 The State of Texas electrocutes six (6) men, commuting five (5) death sentences
Pat Morris Neff is governor until January 20
Governor Miriam Amanda Wallace (“Ma”) Ferguson (D) assumes office on January 20, remains governor until January 17, 1927
April 3 - Sidney Welk - white, Dallas
June 5 - Lavannie Twitty - Black, Dallas
July 3 - Frank Noel - Black - Dallas
July 3 - Lorenzo Noel- Black - Dallas
July 17 - Edwin Rushing - Black - Anderson
August 7 - G. Gray - white - Titus
1925 commutations in Texas
March 20 - Newt DeSilva - white - Jefferson
April 29 - Roy Mitchell - Black - Lamar
July 19 - Joe Brown - Black -Harris
July 22 - Salvador Jacques - Hispanic, El Paso
July 30 - Arnulfo Valles - Hispanic, El Paso
1926 The State of Texas electrocutes nine (9) men
Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
January 2 - Melton Carr - Black - Walker
January 9 - Agapito Rueda - Hispanic - El Paso
March 12 - Willie Vaughn - Black - Bexar
April 6 - S. Robins - Black - Dallas
April 6 - Forest Robins - Black - Dallas
April 16 - John Smith - Black - Brown
May 3 - T. Harris - Black - Harris
May 14 - Sam Phillips - Black - Fort Bend
July 9 - Fred Tilford - Black - Navarro
1926 commutations in Texas
March 27 - W. Aven - white - McLennan
August 24 - Alex Maxey - Black - Shelby
1927 The State of Texas executes eight (8) men in the electric chair
Miriam "Ma" Ferguson is governor until January 17
Governor Dan Moody, January 17, 1927 - January 20, 1931
February 18 - F. Baines - Black - Bexar
March 17 - Bryant Satchell - Black - McLennan
May 10 - Matthew Briscoe - Black - Bexar
August 12 - E. Snow - white - Erath
August 22 - Ed Joshlin - Black - Victoria
September 23 - Willie Robinson - Black - Denton
September 26 - Tillman Simmons - Black - Bexar
November 5 - A. Mullikin - white - Caldwell
Execution of Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicolas Sacco on August 22 in Massachusetts, by electrocution
1927 commutations in Texas
September 8 - Pete McKinney - Black - Fort Bend
1928 The State of Texas executes nine (9) men
Governor Dan Moody
February 10 - George Hassell - white -Parmer
February 10 - Robert Benton - Black - Crosby
April 12 - Willie Fisher - Black - Harris
June 1 - Lawrence Davenport - Black - Harris
August 3 - Garrett Thomas - Black - Live Oak
September 7 - Esequiel Servina - Hispanic - Bexar
September 7 -Clemento Rodriguez - Hispanic - Bexar
September 28 - O. Alexander - Black - Harris
September 28 - Tom Ross - Black - Nacogdoches
1928 commutations in Texas
March 9 - Anastacio Vargas - Hispanic - Bexar
April 14 - Pete Banks - Black - Fayette
October 25 - J. Silver - white - Tarrant
1929 The State of Texas executes eleven (11) men
Governor Dan Mooody
January 11 - Floyd Byrnes - white - Tom Green
April 12 - Wade Wilborn - Black - Titus
April 19 - Robert Blake - white - Swisher
April 27 - Mathis Sanders - Black - Brazos
May 24 - Silas Jarman - Black - Grayson
June 20 - O. Wells - white - Coleman
July 25 - Willie Grady - Black - Hunt
September 2 - H. Leahy - white - Williamson
September 6 - Henry Helms - white - Eastland
November 29 - Lee Merriman - white - Dallas
December 19 - Ben Aldridge - white - Dallas
1929 commutations in Texas
July 29 - Juan Flores - Hispanic - Bexar
September 13 - Jessie Charles - Black, Liberty
September 28 - John McKenzie - white, Bexar
1930 The State of Texas electrocutes nine (9) men
Governor Dan Moody
March 13 - Bishop Adams - Black - Travis
May 22 - Jordan Scott - Black - McClennan
June 6 - William Pruitt - white - Dallas
August 8 - Raney Williams - Black - Jefferson
August 22 - Lee Davis - Black - Brazoria
September 12 - Jesse Washington - Black - Roberts
October 17 - Bill Smith - white - Jones
November 7 - Lus Arcos - Hispanic - Medina
November 28 - J. Maple - white - Harris
1930 commutations in Texas
May 8 - P. Howard - white - El Paso
May 13 - E. Allen - white - Eastland
October 23 - Monty Jackson - Black - Fort Bend
1931 The State of Texas executes ten (10) men
Dan Moody is governor until January 20
Governor Ross Shaw Sterling, January 20, 1931 - January 17, 1933
April 24 - Moncus Twitty - white - Gray
June 19 - Ofilio Herrera - Hispanic - Mason
July 24 -Joshua Riles - Black - Galveston
July 28 - Will Jenkins - Black - Harris
August 14 - Joe Shield - Black - Harris
October 30 - Nicando Muñoz - Hispanic - Hidalgo
October 30 - Victor Rodríguez - Hispanic - Hidalgo
November 30 - Red Wing - Native American - Comal
December 18 - Will Fritts - white - Kent
December 18 - Barney Lee Ross (spelled "Bonnie" on TDCJ website) - Black - Morris
1931 commutations in Texas
August 6 - Clyde Thompson - white - Eastland
August 6 - Dave Goodwin - white - Bowie
1932 The State of Texas executes ten (10) people
Governor Ross Shaw Sterling
January 8 - Alfred Jackson - Black - Bexar
January 8 - Ira McKee - white - Dawson
April 1 - Jake White - Black - Dallas
May 20 - James Williams - Black - Hunt
June 10 - Estamistado López - Hispanic - Willacy
July 28 - Charlie Grogans - Black Jefferson
August 5 - Earnest Johnson - Black - Caldwell
August 5 - John Green - Black - Medina
August 10 - Richard Brown - Black - Young
August 10 - Richard Johnson - Black - Wichita
no commutations in 1932 in Texas
1933 The State of Texas executes nine (9) people
Ross Shaw Sterling is governor until January 17
Miriam "Ma" Ferguson is governor, for the second time, from January 17, 1933 until January 15, 1935
April 7 - Walter Haskins - Black - Ellis
August 18 - R. Bennett - Black - Dallas
November 20 - Marshall Williams - Black - Walker
December 12 - Pantaleon Ortíz - Hispanic - Refugio
December 15 - Clarence Thomas - Black - Hunt
December 19 - Tom Cook - Black - Harris
December 29 - Dewey Hunt - white - Dallas
December 29 - Clarence Booker - Black - Travis
1933 commutations in Texas
January 6 - Carter Rolling - Black - Tarrant
January 9 - Guadalupe Garza - Hispanic - Refugio
January 28 - Hilton Bybee - white - Cottle
February 23 - Aaron Johnson - Black - Walker
March 13 - Castleton Whitfield - Black - Austin
June 6 - Walter Freeney - Black - Falls
July 21 - Robert Cubit - Black - Caldwell
July 21 - Louis Rogers - Black - Caldwell
1934 The State of Texas executes twelve (12) people
Governor Miriam Ferguson
January 18 - Ira Kelley - white - Harris
February 2 - Frank Flours - Black - McLennan
February 9* -Thurman Burkely - Black - Dallas
February 9* - Bluit Burkely - Black - Dallas
February 9* - Jesse Mott - Black - Dallas
April 6 - Sack Jackson - Black - Rusk
April 27 -Charlie Outlaw - white - Angelina
May 1 - Jonnie Williams - Black - Harris
June 1 - Nathan Brooks - Black - Harris
September 28 - Ed Stanton - white - Swisher
November 19 - - Jack Jackson - Black - Liberty
November 23 - June Wollfolk - Black - Bexar
* On February 9, 1931, nine Black men were executed on the same day in Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas
1934 commutations in Texas
January 17 - Leon Aubrey
February 3 - Paul Mitchell
December 20 - J. Hogan
1935 The State of Texas executes twenty (20) people
Miriam Ferguson is governor until January 15
Governor James Burr V. Allred (D), January 15, 1935 - January 17, 1939
January 25 - Leroy Lane - white - Dallas
February 1 - C. Dobbins - white - Harris
February 15 - Leonard Burns - white - Bowie
March 19 - Gabe Smith - Black - Harris
April 2 - Ira Rector - Black - Grimes
April 19 - Doye Arnold - white - Callahan
May 10 - Raymond Hamilton - white - Walker
May 10 - Joe Palmer - white -Grmies
June 7 - Albert Carr - Black - Harris
June 12 - Jon Willis - white - Smith
June 12 - Elijah Stewart - white - Harris
July 12 - Lewis Cernock - white - Williamson
August 14 - John Trapper - Black - Uvalde
August 16 -Johnnie Dad - Black - Brazoria
August 23 - Bernard Lacume - white - Angelina
August 30 - Ben Boyd - Black - Wharton
September 6 - W. May - white - Tarrant
November 25 -W. Hildreth - white - Howard
December 6 - Pierson Cantrell - white - Wood
December 31 - G. James - white - Tyler
1935 commutations in Texas
February 2 - Cecil Short
March 1 - José Sánchez
August 5 - Hugh McCann
North Carolina passes a bill to make lethal gas, rather than the electric chair, the state's method of execution
1936 The State of Texas electrocutes fourteen (14) people
Governor James Burr V. Allred
January 3 - Henry Carr - Black - Tyler
January 10 - Fred Hill - Black - Travis
May 4 - Virgil Stalcup - white - Lubbock
May 29 - Willie Dickerson - Black - Cass
May 30 - Aria Tance - Black - Harris
June 5 - William Davis - Black - Travis
June 5 - James McCallister - white - Hidalgo
June 23 - John Rivera - Hispanic - Bastrop
July 10 - Grady Warren - white - Upshur
July 10 - Mack Brown - Black - Refugio
July 10 - Oscar Brown - Black - Refugio
July 20 - Glenn Warren - white - Angelina
October 23 - Antonio Carrasco - Hispanic - Hudspeth
October 23 - Elmo Banks - Black - Lynn
1936 commutations in Texas
February 13 - Ramiro Galván
June 12 - Willie Green
May 19 - Theo Mitchell
North Carolina executes Allen Foster with lethal gas
1937 The State of Texas executes eight (8) people
Governor James Burr V. Allred
May 28 - Lonnie Joiner - white - Newton
May 30 - Elmer Pruitt - Black - Henderson
June 4 - Dwight Beard - white - Dallas
June 4 - Wisie Ellison - Black - Caldwell
July 2 - Clemens Matura - white - Stonewall
July 9 - Earnest McCarty - white - Tarrant
July 30 - George Patton - white - Ellis
August 20 - Luke Trammel - white - Brazoria
1937 commutations in Texas
August 16 - Harry Alex
August 16 - Humphrey Henderson
September 30 - Peo Quezada
1938 The State of Texas executes eighteen (18) people
Governor James Burr V. Allred
January 14 - Albert Hemphill - Black - Dallas
March 15 - Leroy Kelly - Black - Lamb
April 1 - Virgil Terrill - Black - Gregg
April 29 - Johnnie Banks - Black - Brazoria
April 30 - John Vaughn - white - Bexar
May 6 - Roscoe Young - Black - Harrison
May 6 - Henderson Young - Black Harrison
May 10 - Paul Layes - white - Hays
May 31 - Charlie Brooks - Black - Cass
June 3 - Tommie Moore - Black - Limestone
June 17 - Mark Calhoun - Black - Dallas
June 17 - Tommie Wells - Black - Bowie
July 20 - Fobie Grays - Black - Wharton
August 2 - Vince Boss -white - Caldwell
August 19 - Collin Morgan - white - El Paso
August 19 - Jesse Palanco - Hispanic - Bexar
October 28 - Salenes Canedo - Hispanic - Bexar
December 16 - Morris Norman - Black - Donley
1938 commutations in Texas
July 7 - Willie Caesar
September 16 - Carlos Fernández
November 16 - Sam Cash
1939 The State of Texas executes twelve (12) people
James Burr V. Allred is governor until January 17
Governor Wilbert Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel (D), January 17, 1939 - August 4, 1941
Gerald Mann becomes the Attorney General of Texas
March 6 - Winzell Williams - Black - Dallas
April 10 - Harvey Nealy - Black - Dallas
April 15 - Jesus Herrera - Hispanic - Wilson
April 23 - Genaro Lugo - Hispanic - San Patricio
April 23 - James Miles - Black - Dallas
May 7 - Bennie Randell - Black - Colorado
May 19 - James Ervin - Black - Tarrant
May 21 - Johnnie Caesar - Black - Dallas
June 26 - Ladell Rhodes - Black - Harrison
June 30 - Lee Walker - Black - Freestone
December 16 - Frank Salazar - Hispanic - Nolan
December 19 -Harry Lacy - Black - Montgomery
1939 commutations in Texas
January 16 - Dan Sims
August 15 - Francis Marion
1940 The State of Texas executes eight (8) people
Governor W. Lee Pappy O'Daniel
Gerald Mann is the Attorney General of Texas
March 18 - J. W. Rickman - white - Collin
March 31 - Bluitt Hampton - Black - Dallas
April 19 - Robert Walker - white - Dallas
April 28 - Webster Lyons - Black - Bexar
April 28 - Robert Manning - Black - Bexar
June 7 - Burton Franks - white - Ellis
June 9 - Placido Handy - Hispani - Hidalgo
August 30 - Florence Murphy - Black - Kaufman
no commutations in Texas in 1940
1941 The State of Texas electrocutes six (6) people
Pappy O'Daniel is governor until August 4
Governor Coke Robert Stevenson (D), August 4, 1941 - January 21, 1947
Gerald Mann is the Attorney General of Texas
February 21 - Ascension Martínez - Hispanic - Hidalgo
February 21 - Theodia Muldrow - Black - Dallas
April 20 - George Griffin - Black - Nueces
June 6 - Tommie Harris - Black - Tarrant
August 24 - Arlin Reese - White - Limestone
December 28 - Albert Wesley, Jr. - Black - Dallas
* On June 10, 1941, the husband of an alleged criminal assault (rape) victim shoots and kills Bob White in the Montgomery County Courthouse during jury selection for Mr. White's third trial. The Court of Criminal Appeals had overturned White's first conviction; the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his second.
no Texas commutations in 1941
December 7, 1941 - Bombing of Pearl Harbor
1942 The State of Texas executes six (6) men
Governor Coke Robert Stevenson
Gerald Mann is the Attorney General of Texas
January 22 - Charlie Goldsby - Black - Jefferson
January 28 - Nehemiah Glover - Black - Harris
February 15 - Richard Robinson - Black - Harris
March 22 - Rogers King - Black - Johnson
May 8 - James Alford - white - Bexar
May 16 - McKinley Morris - Black - Wilson
June 15 - Orrin Brown - white - Hansford
July 5 - Luther Hill - Black - Panola
July 29 - Edward Hart, Jr. - Black - Dallas
August 1 - Ben Walker - Black - Harrison
August 8 - Emiliano Benavidez - Hispanic - Schleicher
September 2 - C. Turner - Black - Dallas
no Texas commutations in 1942
1943 The State of Texas executes four (4) people
Governor Coke Robert Stevenson
Gerald Mann is the Attorney General of Texas
Texas Legislature passes the Caucasian Race Resolution
February 19 - Leo Lera - white - Fort Bend
July 21 - Arthur Wilson - Black - Dallas
September 3 - Rex Beard - white - Fisher
October 29 - Delores Quiroz - white - Jeff Davis
one commutation in Texas in 1943
January 12 - Fidel Contreras
1944 The State of Texas executes nine (9) people
Governor Coke Robert Stevenson
Grover Sellers is the Attorney General of Texas
Smith v. Allbright, 321 U.S. 649 (1944)
April 16 - Bruce Jordan - white - Colorado
May 2 - Juan Gutiérrez - Hispanic - Hidalgo
July 9 - David Williams - Black - Travis
July 9 - Bennie Johnson - Black - Chambers
July 30 - Clay Whittle - white - Houston
August 27 - Willie Johnson - Black - Fayette
August 27 - George Johnson - Black - Bowie
December 19 - J. Stephens - white - Ellis
December 31 - Allen Murray - Black - Denton
1944 commutations in Texas
May 26 - Willie Worlds
May 30 - Harold Minor
June 27 - Ramón Muñoz
1945 The State of Texas executes four (4) people
Governor Coke Robert Stevenson
Grover Sellers is the Attorney General of Texas
March 4 - Henry Williams - Black - Gonzales
March 25 - Robert Holloway - Black - McLennan
July 7 - Julius Harper - Black - Harris
September 2 - Joseph Oglesby - Black - Reeves
1945 commutations in Texas
January 3 - George Luke
July 7 - Louis Klander
July 30 - José Rocha
1946 The State of Texas executes six (6) people
Governor Coke Robert Stevenson
Grover Sellers is the Attorney General of Texas
January 18 - Jarvin Elliott - Black - Bowie
May 8 - Clyde Moore - Black - Henderon
June 28 - Richard Gamble - Black - Tarrant
July 19 - L. Newman - Black - Polk
September 1 - Joe Leza - Hispanic - Bexar
September 1 - Harold Palm - Black - Bexar
1946 commutations in Texas
March 6 - Joseph Van Hodge
May 25 - Roberto Campos
August 6 - Edgar Dotson
1947 The State of Texas executes ten (10) people
Coke Robert Stevenson is governor until January 21
Governor Beauford Halbert Jester (D), January 21, 1947 - July 11, 1949
Marion Price Daniel, Sr., is the Attorney General of Texas
March 21 - L. Henderson - Black - Grimes
April 1 - P. Zachary - Black - Williamson
May 2 - Huey Wilson - Black - Harris
May 29 - Oscar Allen - Black - Dallas
June 2 - Louis Jones - Black - Gonzales
June 7 - William Norris - Black - Hudspeth
June 26 - Charlie Allen - Black - Dallas
September 5 - Arthur Adams - Black - Tarrant
September 12 - Elijah Pearson - Black - Harris
October 5 - Raymond Davis - Black - Newton
1947 commutations in Texas
April 20 - Gaither Lovelady
June 20 - Walter Young
1948 The State of Texas executes eleven (11) people
Governor Beauford Halbert Jester
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. is the Attorney General of Texas
January 2 - Lonnie Cline - white -Dallas
February 4 - Nolan West - white - Harris
March 28 - Bennie Johnson - Black - Fort Bend
March 28 - Clayton Rushing - white - Jasper
April 25 - Willie Sims - Black - Harris
July 9 - Jospeh Saulter - white - Galveston
July 18 - John Coleman - Black - Gregg
August 1 - Henry Brown - Black - Harrison
August 20 -Riley McCane - white - Jefferson
August 24 - Cleo Smith - Black - Bowie
October 3 - Andrew Hill - Black - Bowie
1948 commutations in Texas
June 11 - George Gardner
June 25 - Miguel Flores
July 23 - Ernest Williams
The United Nations General Assembly adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1949 The State of Texas executes eight (8) people
Beauford Halbert Jester is governor until his death, in office, on July 11
Lieutenant Governor Robert Allan Shivers (D) assumes the office of governor at Jester's death; Shivers remains governor until January 15, 1957
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. is the Attorney General of Texas
February 1 - Wilson Moore - Black - Harris
February 13 - Thurman Williams - Black - Harris
February 21 - Thomas Larkin - Black - Harrison
April 16 - Buster Northern - white - Dallas
August 10 - W. Jones 0 white - Crosby
August 10 - General Kerzee - Black - Dallas
August 14 - F. McClendan - Black - Lee
September 11 - Cleveland Stovall - Black - Tarrant
1950 The State of Texas executes thirteen (13) people
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. is the Attorney General of Texas
January 29 - Samuel Gibson - 24 years old - Black - Howard
February 5 - William Wilson, Jr. - 31 - Black - Harris
February 9 - J. Morrow - 29 - white - Harris
April 5 - James Blackmon - 24 - Black - Harris
April 5 - William Smith, Jr. - 22 - Black - Harris
May 3 - Lee Bunn - 27 - Black - McLennan
June 2 - Dan White - 49 - white - Palo Pinto
June 9 - William Ray - 35 - white - Navarro
June 14 - Porter Henderson - 47 - Black - Harris
June 21 - Felix Lewis - 47 - white - Live Oak
June 30 - Eugene McFarland - 26 - Black - Harris
December 29 - Edward Johnson - 31 - Black - Harris
1951 The State of Texas executes thirteen (13) people
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. is the Attorney General of Texas
January 13 - Ben Pickett - 35 years old - Black - Harris
February 1 - Thomas Price - 30 - white - Dallas
March 14 - J. Patterson - 44 - white - Harris
March 21- Allen Williams- 40 - white - Harris
June 27 - Morris Bessard- 22 - Black - Harris
July 3 - Sam Williams- 53 - Black - Harris
July 13 - Y. Robinson - 33 - Black - Wichita
September 5 - Allen Matthews - 24 - Black - Harris
September 5 - L. Sims - 26 - Black - Collin
September 5 - Fred Adair, Jr. - 27 - white - Dallas
September 25 - Steve Mitchell - 49 - white - Harris
October 9 - Albert Edwards- 39 - white - Harris
December 8 - Abbie Morton - 32 - Black - Jefferson
1952 The State of Texas executes ten (10)
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. is the Attorney General of Texas
1953 The State of Texas executes five (5) people
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
John Ben Shepperd is the Attorney General of Texas
The U.S. executes Ethel and Julius Rosenberg on June 19, 1953
1954 The State of Texas executes nine (9) people
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
John Ben Shepperd is the Attorney General of Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Hernández v. Texas, 347 U.S.475 (1954)
and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)
1955 The State of Texas executes four (4) people
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
John Ben Shepperd is the Attorney General of Texas
1956 The State of Texas executes seven (7) people
Governor Robert Allan Shivers
John Ben Shepperd is the Attorney General of Texas
January 4 - Carrol Farrar - white - Harris
January 24 - Johnnie Gordon - Black - Harris
May 12 - Tommie Walker - Black - Dallas
June 8 - Marion Washington - Black - McLennan
August 23 - Flandell Fite - Black - Dallas
August 30 - Timothy Pierce- Black - Dallas
October 30 - Leonard Bingham - white - Pecos
1957 The State of Texas executes six (6) people
Robert Allan Shivers is governor until January 15
Governor Marion Price Daniel, Sr. (D) assumes office
Will Wilson is the Attorney General of Texas
January 3 - John McHenry - 26 years old - Black - Harris
January 4 - Leslie Webb - 32 - Black - Wood
April 4 - Merle Ellisor - 34 - white - Harris
April 24 - Yancy McGowen - 64 - white - Harris
August 21 - Wilburn Hall - 29 - white - Harris
September 14 - John Wright - 38 - Black - Bell
1958 The State of Texas executes six (6) people
Governor Marion Price Daniel, Sr.
Will Wilson is the Attorney General of Texas
Trop v. Dulles, 356 U.S. 86
February 6 - Charlie White - 46 years old - white - Travis
March 6 - John Mack - 25 - Black - Dallas
June 11 - Alvin Blankenship - 27 - Black - Harris
June 20 - Theodore Thompson - 23 - Black - Dallas
July 25 - Jimmy Shaver - 33 - white - Bell
September 19 - Marshall Lamkin - 53 - Black - Caldwell
1959 The State of Texas executes three (3) people
Governor Marion Price Daniel, Sr.
Will Wilson is the Attorney General of Texas
February 4 - Phillip Slater - 36 years old - Black - Montgomery
May 28 - Milton Williams - 28 years old - Black - Lee
August 4 - Jessie Smith - 42 years old - Black - Harris
1960 The State of Texas executes eight (8) men
Governor Marion Price Daniel, Sr.
Will Wilson is the Attorney General of Texas
March 5 - Junior Williams - 30 years old - Black - Wharton
April 28 - Nearvel Moon - 19 years old - White - Harris
May 26 - Howard Draper, Jr. - 28 years old - Black - Dallas
July 8 - George William - 30 years old - Black - Williamson
July 15 - Willie Philpot - 27 years old - Black - Gregg
August 12 - George Moses - 30 years old - Black - Harris
August 27 - Eusebio Martínez - 26 years old - Hispanic - Midland
November 30 - Samuel Holmes - 22 years old - Black - Travis
1961 The State of Texas executes three (3) people
Governor Marion Price Daniel
Attorney General Will Wilson
June 3 - Charles Williams- Black - Houston
June 23 - James Edwards - Black - Dallas
November 9 - Fred Leath - White - Tarrant
1962 The State of Texas executes nine (9) men
Attorney General Will Wilson
January 10 - Charles Forgey - White - Dallas
January 11 - Roosevelt Wiley - Black - Johnson
March 20 - Donald Wilson - White - Johnson
April 19 - Adrian Johnson - Black - Harris
May 15 - Herbert Bradley - Black - Dallas
May 23 - Howard Stickney - White - Harris
July 18 - Walter Mosley - White - Harris
September 5 - Bobby Stein - Black - Harris
October 6 - Gibson Roscoe - Black - Harris
1963 Governor John Connally (D) assumes office
President John F. Kennedy, Jr., is assassinated in Dallas on November 22. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson assumes the Presidency.
The State of Texas executes four men
Attorney General Waggoner Carr
January 3 - Joe Sneed - Black - Dallas
January 20 - Bennie McIntyre - Black - Lynn
February 20 - Leo Luton - White - Dallas
March 31 - John Lavan - Black - Harris
1964 The State of Texas executes five men
Governor John Connally (D)
Attorney General Waggoner Carr
February 12 - Jesse Parker - Black - Dallas
March 11 - Bobby Bradford - Black - Ellis
April 26 - Lawrence O'Connor - Black - Harris
May 7 - James Echols - Black - Harris
July 30 - Joseph Johnson - Black - Harris
1965 No Texas executions
Governor John Connally (D)
Attorney General Waggoner Carr
1966 No Texas executions
Governor John Connally (D)
Attorney General Waggoner Carr
1967 No Texas executions
Governor John Connally (D)
Attorney General Crawford Martin
1968 No Texas executions
Governor John Connally (D)
Attorney General Crawford Martin
1969 Richard Nixon (R) becomes President of the U.S
Governor Preston Smith (D) assumes office
Attorney General Crawford Martin
No Texas executions
1970 No Texas executions
Governor Preston Smith (D)
Attorney General Crawford Martin
1971 No Texas executions
Governor Preston Smith (D)
Attorney General Crawford Martin
1972
Governor Preston Smith (D)
Attorney General Crawford Martin
Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972)
No Texas executions
1973 President Richard Nixon (R) begins his second term
Governor Dolph Briscoe(D) takes office
Attorney General John L. Hill
No Texas executions
In the legislative session immediately following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia, the Texas Legislature adopts a new capital punishment statute. Please see the transcipt of the Floor debate on HB 200, May 20, 1973
The U.S. Supreme Court rules against families in Edgewood Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, who had challenged the state's system of public school financing. By a 5 - 4 majority, the Court in San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodríguez, decided that education was not a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution did not prohibit discrimination on the basis of economic class (in other words, that it is not unconstitutional to discriminate against poor people).
Beginning in the late 1940s, federal courts had begun to expand constitutional equal protection in cases such as Méndez v. Westminster, 64 F. Supp.544 (C.D. Cal. 1946) affirmed, 161 F. 2d 744 (9th Cir. 1957); Sweatt v. Painter, 399 U.S. 629 (1950). Earl Warren became Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in October, 1953; in May of 1954 the Court announced two landmark equal protection decisions: Hernández v. Texas and its first ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. These and subsequent decisions gave rise to expectations that federal judges might provide friendly venues for civil rights battles.
With San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodríguez, the new Supreme Court majority under Chief Justice Warren E. Burger shifted course.
Not only did the Burger Court majority resist expanding equal protection; it also began to look at social problems in terms of searching for wrongdoers rather than for remedies. In Dandridge v. Williams, 397. U.S. 471 (1970), the Court examined the way in which Maryland administered Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) funds. This system provided more assistance to families with more children, but only up to a point. There was a cap on the total monthly assistance available, with the result that children in larger families received less than children in smaller families. The majority looked at the issue from the point of view of the state officials and determined that these actors had not done anything wrong: they had made a rational decision and were not acting out of invidious discrimination. Justice Thurgood Marshall, however, looked at the problem from a different perspective: "the impact [of the state action] on those discriminated against - the denial of even a subsistence existence" (530)(emphasis added). The majority looked at the mental processes of the state actors and found these processes not irrational, while Justices Marshall and Brennan concerned themselves with the material effects of state actions on people, here, children.
In focusing more on the motivations of actors, the majority was judging Maryland officials as if it was handling a criminal case: Did these folks do something wrong, or not? Justices Marshall and Brennan were still looking at the case as civil case, the existence of a problem, regardless of whether or not anyone was at "fault." Similarly, in San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodríguez, the majority of the Court examined the actions of Texas legislators and found no proof of ill will, invidious discrimination, malevolent intent. The legislators were acting rationally. The dissenters, however, looked at the effects of the state actions on schoolchildren, and saw no reason why kids in Edgewood and other low-income areas should go without, while other children enjoyed abundant resources. The distinction grew increasingly sharp throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, and provided the intellectual underpinning for the Supreme Court's decision in McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987).
1974 Resignation of President Richard Nixon (R) ; Gerald Ford (R) becomes President of the U.S.
1975 No executions in the U.S.
Governor Dolph Briscoe (D)
Attorney General John L. Hill
1976 No executions in the U.S.
Governor Dolph Briscoe (D)
Attorney General John L. Hill
Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976)
Proffitt v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242 (1976)
Jurek v. Texas, 428. U.S. 262 (1976)
Roberts v. Louisiana, 428 U.S. 325 (1976)
Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S. 280 (1976)
”Let’s Kill Gary Gilmore for Christmas”>, Saturday Night Live, Season 2, Episode 10, December 11, 1976
1977 Jimmy Carter (D) becomes President of the United States
Governor Dolph Briscoe (D)
Attorney General John L. Hill
The State of Utah executes Gary Gilmore by firing squad on January 17. This is the first?execution in the U.S. since Furman v. Georgia
President Carter makes a major address about human rights at Notre Dame University on May 22, 1977
No Texas executions
1978 No Texas executions
Governor Dolph Briscoe
Attorney General John L. Hill
1979 Governor Bill Clements takes office
Attorney General Mark White
No Texas executions
1980 No Texas executions
Governor Bill Clements
Attorney General Mark White
1981 Ronald Reagan inaugurated as President of the U.S.
Governor Bill Clements
Attorney General Mark White
No Texas executions
1982 Texas becomes the first state in the U.S. to execute a person by lethal injection. On December 7, 1982, the State of Texas executes Charlie Brooks, Jr. Mr. Brooks was a Black man sentenced to death by a jury in Tarrant County.
1983 Governor Mark White takes office
Attorney General Jim Mattox
No executions in Texas
1984 The State of Texas executes three (3) people
Governor Mark White
Attorney General Jim Mattox
March 14 - James Autry - white - Jefferson
March 31 - Ronald O'Bryan - white - Harris
October 30 - Thomas Barefoot - white - Bell
1985 The State of Texas executes six (6) people
Governor Mark White
Attorney General Jim Mattox
January 16 - Doyle Skillern - white - Lubbock
March 13 - Stephen Morin - white - Jefferson
May 15 - Jesse De La Rosa - Hispanic - Bexar
June 25 - Charles Milton Black - Tarrant
July 9 - Henry Porter - Hispanic - Tarrant
September 11 - Charles Rumbaugh - white - Potter
1986 The State of Texas executes ten (10) people
Governor Mark White
Attorney General Jim Mattox
March 12 - Charles Bass - white - Harris
April 16 - Jeffery Barney - white - Harris
May 15 - Jay Pinkerton - white - Nueces
June 9 - Rudy Esquivel - Hispanic - Harris
June 19 - Kenneth Brock - white - Harris
August 20 - Randy Woolls - white - Tom Green
August 22 - Larry Smith - Black - Dallas
August 26 - Chester Wicker - white - Galveston
December 4 - Michael Evans - Black - Dallas
December 18 - Richard Andrade - Hispanic - Nueces
Batson v. Kentucky, 476, U.S. 79 (1986)
1987 Governor Bill Clements (R) takes office
The State of Texas executes six (6) people
Attorney General Jim Mattox
January 30 - Ramón Hernández - Hispanic - El Paso
March 4 - Eliseo Moreno - Hispanic - Fort Bend
May 28 - Anthony Williams - Black - Harris
June 24 - Elliot Johnson - Black - Jefferson
July 8 - John Thompson - white - Bexar
September 10 - Joseph Starvaggi - white - Montgomery
McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987)
1988 The State of Texas executes three (3) people
Governor Bill Clements
Attorney General Jim Mattox
January 7 - Robert Streetman - white - Hardin
November 3 - Donald Franklin - Black - Nueces
December 13 - Raymond Landry, Sr. - Black - Harris
1989 The State of Texas executes four (4) people
Governor Bill Clements
Attorney General Jim Mattox
March 22 - Leon King - Black - Harris
May 24 - Stephen McCoy - white - Harris
September 20 - James Paster - White - Harris
December 7 - Carlos De Luna - Hispanic - Nueces
1990 The State of Texas executes four (4) people
Governor Bill Clements
Attorney General Jim Mattox
April 21 - Jerome Butler - Black - Harris
May 17 - Johnny Anderson - white - Jefferson
June 26 - James Smith - Black - Harris
July 18 - Mikel Derrick - white - Harris
1991 Governor Ann Richards (D) takes office
The State of Texas executes five (5) people
Attorney General Dan Morales
February 26 - Lawrence Buxton - Black - Harris
May 23 - Ignacio Cuevas Hispanic Harris
June 17 - Jerry Bird - white- Cameron
September 19 - James Russell - Black - Fort Bend
November 12 - G. Green - white - Montgomery
1992 The State of Texas executes twelve (12) people
Governor Ann Richards (D)
Attorney General Dan Morales
January 22 - Joe Cordova - Hispanic - Harris
February 11 - Johnny Garrett - white - Potter - 17 years old at the time of the crime for which he was convicted See interview with Bishop L. E. Matthiesen
February 28 - David Clark - white - Brazos
March 3 - Edward Ellis - white - Harris
April 23 - Billy White - Black - Harris
May 7 - Justin May - white - Brazoria
May 20 - Jesus Romero, Jr. - Hispanic Cameron
May 22 - Robert Black, Jr. white - Brazos
August 11 - Curtis Johnson - Black - Harris
September 22 - James Demouchette Black Harris
November 19 - Jeffery Griffin - Black - Harris
December 10 - Kavin Lincecum - Black - Brazoria
1993 Bill Clinton becomes President of the United States
The State of Texas executes seventeen (17) people
Governor Ann Richards (D)
Attorney General Dan Morales
March 23 - Carlos Santana - Hispanic - Harris
March 25 - Ramón Montoya - Hispanic - Dallas
May 4 - Darryl Stewart - Black - Harris
May 12 - Leonel Herrera - Hispanic - Cameron
May 18 - John Sawyers - white - Harris
June 29 - Markum Duff-Smith - white - Harris
July 1 - Curtis Harris - Black - Brazos
July 30 - Danny Harris - Black - Brazos
August 5 - Joseph Jernigan - white - Navarro
August 12 - David Holland - white - Jefferson
August 20 - Carl Kelly - Black - McLennan
August 24 - Ruben Cantu - Hispanic - Bexar
August 31 - Richard Wilkerson - Black - Harris
September 3 - Johnny James - white - Chambers
September 28 - Antonio Bonham - Black - Harris
November 10 - Anthony Cook - white - Milam
December 15 - Clifford Phillips - Black - Harris
Herrera v. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, 506 U.S. 390 (1993)
Graham v. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, 506 U.S. 461 (1993)
1994 The State of Texas executes fourteen (14) people
Governor Ann Richards (D)
Attorney General Dan Morales
February 2 - Harold Barnard - white - Galveston
March 31 - Freddie Webb - Black - Nueces
April 4 - Richard Beavers - white - Harris
April 26 - Larry Anderson - white - Harris
May 3 - Paul Rougeau - Black - Harris
May 27 - Stephen Nethery - white - Dallas
June 14 - Denton Crank- white - Harris
September 16 - Jessie Gutierrez - Hispanic - Brazos
September 20 - George Lott - white - Potter
October 5 - Walter Williams - Black - Bexar
November 22 - Warren Bridge - white - Galveston
December 6 - Herman Clark, Jr. - Black - Harris
December 11 - Raymond Kinnamon - white - Harris
Callins v. Collins, No. 93-7054. The U.S. Supreme Court denies a petition for certiorari. Justice Harry A. Blackmun, dissenting, wrote “I shall no longer tinker with the machinery of death.”
1995 Governor George W. Bush (R) takes office
The State of Texas executes nineteen (19) people
Attorney General Dan Morales
January 4 - Jesse Jacobs - white - Walker
January 17 - Mario Marquez - Hispanic - Bexar
January 31 - Willie Williams - Black - Harris
January 31 - Clifton Russell, Jr. - white - Taylor
February 7 - Jeffery Motley - white - Harris
February 16 - Billy Gardner - white - Dallas
February 21 - Samuel Hawkins - Black - Lubbock
Apr 6 - Noble Mays - white - Wilbarger
June 1 - Fletcher Mann - white - Dallas
June 8 - Ronald Allridge - Black - Tarrant
June 20 - John Fearance - Black - Dallas
June 21 - Karl Hammond - Black - Bexar
August 15 - Vernon Sattiewhite - Black - Bexar
September 19 - Carl Johnson - Black - Harris
October 4 - Harold Lane - white - Dallas
December 6 - Bernard Amos - Black Dallas
December 7 - Hai Hai Vuong - Asian - Jefferson
December 11 - Esequel Banda - Hispanic - Hamilton
December 12 - James Briddle - white - Harris
1996 The State of Texas executes three (3) people
Governor George W. Bush (R)
Attorney General Dan Morales
February 9 - Leo Jenkins - white - Harris
February 27 - Kenneth Granviel - Black - Tarrant
September 18 - Joe Gonzales, Jr. - Hispanic - Potter
U.S. Congress passes, and President Clinton signs, several major pieces of legislation limiting the rights of immigrants, refugees, as well as criminal defendants and prison inmates
1997 President Bill Clinton (D) begins his second term
The State of Texas executes thirty-seven (37) people
Governor George W. Bush (R)
Attorney General Dan Morales
February 10 - Richard Brimage, Jr. - white - Kleberg
March 12 - John Barefield - Black - Harris
April 2 - David Herman - white - Tarrant
April 3 - David Spence - white - McLennan
April 14 - Billy Woods - white - Harris
April 16 - Kenneth Gentry - white - Denton
April 21 - Benjamin Boyle - white - Potter
April 29 - Ernest Baldree - white - Navarro
May 6 - Terry Washington - Black - Walker
May 13 - Anthony Westley - Black - Harris
May 16 - Clifton Belyeu - white - McLennan
May 19 - Richard Drinkard - white - Harris
May 20 - Clarence Lackey - white - Tom Green
May 21 - Bruce Callins - Black - Tarrant
May 22 - Larry White - white - Harris
May 28 - Robert Madden - white - Leon
June 2 - Patrick Rogers - Black - Collin
June 3 - Kenneth Harris - Black - Harris
June 4 - Davis Losada - Hispanic - Cameron
June 4 - Dorsie Johnson, Jr. - Black - Scurry
June 11 - Earl Behringer - white - Tarrant
June 16 - David Stoker - white - Hale
June 17 - Eddie Johnson - Black - Aransas
June 18 - Irineo Montoya - Hispanic - Cameron
July 29 - Robert West, Jr. - white - Harris
September 9 - James Carl Lee Davis - Black - Travis
September 22 - Jessel Turner - Black - Harris
September 25 - Benjamin Stone - white - Nueces
September 30 - John Cockrum - white - Bowie
October 1 - Dwight Adanandus - Black - Bexar
October 8 - Ricky Green - white - Tarrant
October 28 - Kenneth Ransom - Black -Harris
November 4 - Aua Lauti - Asian- Harris
November 6 - Aaron Fuller - white Dawson
November 19 -Michael Sharp - white Crockett
November 21 - Charlie Livingston - Black Harris
December 9 - Michael Lockhart - white - Bexar
April 17 - Ricardo Aldape Guerra leaves Death Row. He returns to Mexico. See ”Mexican Nationals and the Death Penalty,” The International Justice Project (last accessed February 12, 2009, and Brief of Amici Curiae Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic; The Southern Center for Human Rights; Lawyers Committee for Human Rights; International Human Rights Law Group; and Law Professors, in Richardo Aldape Guerra v. Gary L. Johnson, (95-20443), 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
August 6 - Kerry Cook
1998 The State of Texas executes twenty (20) people
Governor George W. Bush (R)
Attorney General Dan Morales
February 3 - Karla Faye Tucker - white - Harris
February 9 - Steven Renfro - white - Harrison
March 11 - Jerry Hogue - white - Tarrant
April 22 - Joseph Cannon - white - Bexar
April 24 - Lesley Gosch - white - Victoria
April 29- Frank McFarland - white - Tarrant
May 18 - Robert Carter - Black - Harris
May 19 - Pedro Muniz - Hispanic - Williamson
June 11 - Clifford Boggess - white - Clay
June 15- Johnny Pyles - white - Dallas
June 25 - Henry Lee Lucas falsely confessed to scores of long unsolved murders across the U.S., many at the instigation of the "Lucas Task Force." He received a commuted sentence of life imprisonment.
June 26 - Leopoldo Narvaiz - Hispanic - Bexar
August 23 - David Castillo - Hispanic - Hidalgo
August 26 - Genaro Camacho, Jr. - Hispanic Dallas
September 9 - Delbert Teague, Jr. - white Tarrant
October 1 - Javier Cruz - Hispanic - Bexar
October 7 - Jonathan Nobles - white - Travis
November 17 - Kenneth McDuff - white - Harris
December 7 - Daniel Corwin - white - Montgomery
December 8 - Jeff Emery - white - Brazos
December 15 - James Meanes - Black - Harris
1999 The State of Texas executes thirty-five (35) people
Governor George W. Bush (R)
Attorney General John Cornyn
January 5 - John Moody - white - Taylor
January 13 - Troy Farris - white - Tarrant
January 26 - Martin Vega - Hispanic - Caldwell
February 10 - George Cordova - Hispanic - Bexar
February 11 - Danny Barber - white - Dallas
February 16 - Andrew Cantu - Hispanic - Taylor
February 24 - Norman Green - Black - Bexar
March 26 - Charles Rector - Black Travis
March 30 -Robert White - white - Collin
April 28 - Aaron Foust - white - Tarrant
May 4 - José De La Cruz - Hispanic - Nueces
May 5 - Clydell Coleman - Black - McLennan
June 1 - William Little - white - Liberty
June 17 - Joseph Faulder - white - Gregg
July 1 - Charles Tuttle - white - Smith
July 7 - Tyrone Fuller - Black - Grayson
August 4 - Ricky Blackmon - white - Shelby
August 5 - Charles Boyd - Black - Dallas
August 10 - Kenneth Dunn - Black - Harris
August 11 - James Earhart - white - Lee
August 18 - Joe Trevino, Jr. - Hispanic - Tarrant
September 1 - Raymond Jones - Black - Jefferson
September 10 - Willis Barnes - Black - Harris
September 14 - William Davis - Black - Harris
September 21 - Richard Smith - white - Harris
October 12 - Alvin Crane - white - Denton
October 14 - Jerry McFadden - white - Upshur
October 28 - Domingo Cantu, Jr. - Hispanic - Dallas
November 16 - Desmond Jennings - Black - Tarrant
November 17 - John Lamb - white - Hunt
November 18 - Jose Gutierrez - Hispanic - Brazos
December 8 - David Long - white - Dallas
December 9 - James Beathard - white - Trinity
December 14 - Robert Atworth - white - Dallas
December 15 - Sammie Felder, Jr. Black - Harris
2000 The State of Texas executes forty (40) people
Governor George W. Bush (R) runs for President of the U.S. against Vice-President Al Gore (D)
Attorney General John Cornyn
Jan 12 - Earl Heiselbetz, Jr. - white - Sabine
Jan 18 - Spencer Goodman - white - Fort Bend
Jan 20 - David Hicks - Black Freestone
Jan 21 - Larry Robison - white - Tarrant
Jan 24 - Billy Hughes, Jr. - white Matagorda
Jan 25 - Glen McGinnis - Black - Montgomery
Jan 27 - James Moreland - white - Henderson
February 23 -Cornelius Goss - Black - Dallas
February 24 - Betty Beets - white - Henderson
March 1 - Odell Barnes, Jr. Black - Lubbock
March 14 - Ponchai Wilkerson - Black - Harris
March 15 - Timothy Gribble - white - Galveston
May 4 - Tommy Jackson - Black - Williamson
May 9 - William Kitchens - white - Taylor
May 11 - Michael McBride - white - Lubbock
May 23 - James Richardson - Black - Navarro
May 24 - Richard Foster - white - Parker
May 25 - James Clayton - Black - Taylor
May 31 Robert Carter - Black - Bastrop
June 12 - Thomas Mason - white - Smith
June 14 - John Burks - Black - McLennan
June 15 - Paul Nuncio - Hispanic - Hale
June 22 - Gary Graham - Black - Harris
June 29 - Jessy San Miguel - Hispanic - Dallas
July 12 - Orien Joiner - white - Lubbock
July 26 - Juan Soria - Hispanic - Tarrant
August 9 - Oliver Cruz - Hispanic - Bexar
August 9 - Brian Roberson - Black Dallas
August 16 - John Satterwhite - Black - Bexar
August 22 - Richard Jones - white - Tarrant
August 23 - David Gibbs - white - Montgomery
August 30 - Jeffery Caldwell - Black - Dallas
September 27 - Ricky McGinn - white - Brown
November 1 - Jeffery Dillingham - white - Wichita
November 9 - Miguel Flores - Hispanic - Collin (change of venue from Hutchinson County)
November 14 - Stacey Lawton Black Smith
November 15 - Tony Chambers Black Smith
December 5 - Garry Miller - white - Jones
December 6 - Daniel Hittle - white - Dallas
December 7 - Claude Jones - white - San Jacinto
2001 The State of Texas executes seventeen (17) people
Penry v. Johnson, 532 U.S. 782 (2001)
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General John Cornyn
January 9 - Jack Clark - White - Lubbock
January 18 - Alvin Goodwin - White - Montgomery
January 29 - Caruthers Alexander - Black - Bexar
February 8 - Adolph Hernandez - Hispanic - Lubbock
March 7 - Dennis Dowthitt - White - Montgomery
April 3 - Jason Massey - White - Ellis
April 25 - David Goff - Black - Tarrant
June 13 - John Wheat - White - Tarrant
June 26 - Miguel Richardson - Black - Bexar
July 11 - James Wilkens - White - Smith
August 8 - Mack Hill - White - Lubbock
August 16 - Jeffery Doughtie - White Nueces
September 18 - James Knox - White - Galveston
October 22 - Gerald Mitchell - Black - Harris
November 14 - Jeffery Tucker - White - Parker
November 15 - Emerson Rudd - Black - Dallas
December 12 - Vincent Cooks - Black - Dallas
2002 The State of Texas executes thirty-three (33) people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General John Cornyn resigns to run for the U.S. Senate. Greg Abbott replaces John Cornyn in the A.G. office.
Oral argument in Atkins v. Virginia, 00-8452, on February 20, 2002
Napoleon Beazley dies in the execution chamber on May 28, 2002, despite international protests.
Please see the American Bar Association page on Napoleon Beazley. See also Archibishop Desmond Tutu’s essay, “The Doctrine of Revenge.”
U.S. Supreme Court announces its decision in Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304
2003 The State of Texas executes twenty-four (24) people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
2004 The State of Texas executes twenty-three (23) people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
January 6 - Ynobe Matthews - Black - Brazos
January 14 - Kenneth Bruce - Black - Collin
January 21 - Kevin Zimmerman - White - Jefferson
January 28 - Billy Vickers - White - Lamar
February 11 - Edward Lagrone - Black - Tarrant
February 12 - Bobby Hopkins - Black - Johnson
February 17 - Cameron Willingham - White - Navarro
March 3 - Marcus Cotton Black - Harris
May 18 - Kelsey Patterson - Black - Anderson
June 30 - David Harris - White - Jefferson
August 25 - Jasen Busby - White - Cherokee
August 26 - - James Allridge III - Black - Tarrant
September 21 - Andrew Flores - Hispanic- Bexar
October 5 - Edward Green - Black - Harris
October 6, - Peter Miniel - Hispanic - Harris
October 12 - Donald Aldrich - White - Kerr
October 20 - Ricky Morrow - White - Dallas
October 26 - Dominique Green - Black - Harris
November 2 - Lorenzo Morris - Black - Harris
November 4 - Robert Morrow - White - Liberty
November 9 - Demarco McCullum - Black - Harris
November 10 - Frederick McWilliams - Black - Harris
November 17 - Anthony Fuentes - Hispanic - Harris
2005 The State of Texas executes nineteen (19) people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
January 4 - James Porter - White - Bowie
January 25 - Troy Kunkle - White - Nueces
February 17 - Dennis Bagwell - White - Atascosa
March 8 - George Hopper - White - Dallas
April 20 - Douglas Roberts - White - Kendall
May 3 - Lonnie Pursley - White - Polk
May 18 - Bryan Wolfe - Black - Jefferson
May 19 - Richard Cartwright - White - Nueces
June 7 - Alexander Martinez Hispanic - Harris
July 28 - David Martinez Hispanic - Travis
August 10 - Gary Sterling - Black - Navarro
August 23 - Robert Shields - White - Galveston
September14 - Frances Newton - Black - Harris
October 6 - Ronald Howard - Black - Travis (change of venue from Jefferson County)
October 20 - Luis Ramirez Hispanic - Tom Green
November 3 - Melvin White - White - Pecos
November 9 - Charles Thacker - White - Harris
November 15 - Robert Rowell - White - Harris
November 16 - Shannon Thomas - Black - Harris
Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551
2006 The State of Texas executes twenty-four (24) people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
January 25 - Marion Dudley - Black - Harris
January 31 - Jaime Elizalde Jr. - Hispanic - Harris
February 8 - Robert Neville Jr. - White - Tarrant
February 15 - Clyde Smith Jr. - Black - Harris
March 15 - Tommie Hughes - Black - Dallas
March 22 - Robert Salazar Jr. - Hispanic - Lubbock
March 29 - Kevin Kincy - Black - Harris
May 4 - Jackie Wilson White - Dallas
May 17 - Jermaine Herron - Black - Refugio
May 24 - Jesus Aguilar - - Hispanic - Cameron
Jun 6 - Timothy Titsworth - White - Randall
June 20 - Lamont Reese - Black - Tarrant
June 27 - Angel Resendiz - Hispanic - Harris
July 11 - Derrick O'Brien Black - Harris
July 19 - Mauriceo Brown Black - Bexar
July 20 - Robert Anderson White - Potter
August 3 - William Wyatt Jr. - Black - Bowie
August 17 - Richard Hinojosa - Hispanic - Bexar
August 24 - Justin Fuller - Black - Smith
August 31 - Derrick Frazier - Black - Refugio
September 12 - Farley Matchett- Black - Harris
October 25 - Gregory Summers - White - Denton
November 1 - Donell Jackson - Black -Harris
November 8 - Willie Shannon Black - Harris
2007 The State of Texas executes twenty-seven (27) people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
January 10 - Carlos Granados - Hispanic - Williamson
January 17 - Jonathan Moore - white - Bexar
January 30 - Christopher Swift - white Denton
February 7 - James Jackson - Black - Harris
February 22 - Newton Anderson - white - Smith
February 27 - Donald Miller - white - Harris
March 6 - Robert Perez Hispanic - Dallas
March 7 - Joseph Nichols - Black - Harris
March 20 - Charles Nealy - Black - Dallas
March 28 - Vincent Gutierrez - Hispanic - Bexar
March 29 - Roy Pippin - white - Harris
April 11 - James Clark - white - Denton
April 26 - Ryan Dickson - white - Potter
May 16 - Charles Smith - white - Pecos
June 6 - Michael Griffith - white - Harris
June 20 - Lionell Rodriguez - Hispanic - Harris
June 21 - Gilberto Reyes - Hispanic - Bailey
June 26 - Patrick Knight - white - Randall
July 24 - Lonnie Johnson - Black - Harris
August 15 - Kenneth Parr - Black - Matagorda
August 22 - Johnny Conner - Black - Harris
August 28 - Daroyce Mosley - Black - Gregg
August 29 - John Amador - Hispanic - Bexar
September 5 - Tony Roach - white - Potter
September 20 - Clifford Kimmel - white - Bexar
Sepember 25 - Michael Richard - Black - Harris
Baze and Bowling v. Rees, 553 U.S. ____ (2008), Docket 07-5439
Aug 31, 2007 - Kenneth Foster - Convicted under the law of parties. Following vigorous protests, Governor Perry commuted Mr. Foster's sentence to life in prison.
2008 The State of Texas executes eighteen (18)
people
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
June 11 Karl Chamberlain - white - Dallas
July 10 - Carlton Turner - Black - Dallas
July 23 - - Derrick Sonnier - Black - Harris
July 31 - Larry Davis - Black - Potter
August 5 - José Medellin - Hispanic - Harris - Mexican national
August 7 - Heliberto Chi - Hispanic Tarrant - Honduran national
August 12 - Leon Dorsey, IV - Black - Dallas
August 14 - Michael Rodriguez - Hispanic - Dallas
September 17 - William Murray - white - Kaufman
October 14 - Alvin Kelly - white - Gregg
October 16 - Kevin Watts - Black - Bexar
October 21 - Joseph Ries - white Hopkins
October 28 - Eric Nenno - white - Harris
October 30 - Gregory Wright - white - Dallas
November 6 - Elkie Taylor - Black - Tarrant
November 12 - George Whitaker III - Black - Harris
November 13 - Denard Manns - Black - Bell
November 20 - Robert Hudson - Black - Dallas
2009 The State of Texas executes twenty-four (24) people in 2009
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
January 14 - Curtis Moore - Black - Tarrant
January 21 - Frank Moore - Black - Bexar
January 22 - Reginald Perkins - Black - Tarrant
January 28 - Virgil Martinez Hispanic - Brazoria
January 29 - Ricardo Ortiz - Hispanic - El Paso
February 4 - David Martinez - Hispanic - Bexar
February 10 - Dale Scheanette - Black - Tarrant
February 12 - Johnny Johnson - Black - Harris
March 3 - Willie Pondexter, Jr. - Black - Red River (Change of venue from Bowie)
March 4 - Kenneth Morris - Black - Harris
March 10 - James Martinez - Hispanic - Tarrant
March 11 - Luis Salazar - Hispanic - Bexar
April 15 - Michael Rosales - Hispanic - Lubbock
April 30 - Derrick Johnson - Black - Dallas
May 19 - Michael Riley Black - Wood
June 2 - Terry Hankins - white - Tarrant
September 16 - Stephen Moody - white - Harris
September 22 - Christopher Coleman - Black - Harris
October 27 - Reginald Blanton - Black - Bexar
November 5 - Khristian Oliver - white - Nacogdoches
November 10 - Yosvanis Valle - Hispanic - Harris
November 18 - Danielle Simpson - Black - Anderson
November 19 - Robert Thompson - Black - Harris
December 3 - Bobby Woods - white - Llano (Change of venue from Hood County)
2010
Governor Rick Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott
January 7 - Kenneth Mosely - Black - Dallas
January 12 - Gary Johnson - white - Walker
March 2 - Michael Sigala - Hispanic - Collin
March 11 -Joshua Maxwell - white - Bexar
March 30 -Alix Franklin - Black - Harris
April 22 - William Berkley - white - El Paso
April 27 -Samuel Bustamante - Hispanic - Fort Bend
May 12 -Kevin Varga - white - Hunt
May 13- Billy Galloway - white - Hunt
May 19 - Rogelio Cannaday - Hispanic - Bee
May 25 - John Alba - Hispanic - Collin
June 2 - George Jones - Black - Dallas
see list of executions in Texas since 1982 on this page of the Texas Department of Corrections website
see list of executions scheduled by Texas
