Texas Governor. Born William Perry Clements, Jr., he attended Southern Methodist University in the late 1930s and worked in the oil business until joining the Army for World War II. He served from 1941 to 1945 in the Engineer Corps, and then resumed working in the oil industry, achieving success with SEDCO, a venture he grew into the world's largest offshore drilling company. He was a supporter of Richard Nixon for President in 1968 and 1972, and in 1973 was appointed Deputy Secretary of Defense, serving until 1977. In 1978 Clements won the Texas governorship, becoming the first Republican elected to the office since Reconstruction. He was defeated for reelection in 1982, but in 1986 he beat incumbent Mark White to regain the governorship, serving from 1987 to 1991. A member of the SMU Board of Governors, in 1987 Clements acknowledged that the board made payments to football players from a fund provided by boosters. According to Clements the board agreed to phase out payments after 1986, but felt obligated to honor existing commitments. As a result of the payments, the NCAA shut down SMU's football program for 1987, and SMU decided not to field a team in 1988. In retirement Clements remained active in Republican politics, including endorsing 2008 presidential nominee John McCain Governor Rick Perry for reelection in 2010.
Texas Governor. Born William Perry Clements, Jr., he attended Southern Methodist University in the late 1930s and worked in the oil business until joining the Army for World War II. He served from 1941 to 1945 in the Engineer Corps, and then resumed working in the oil industry, achieving success with SEDCO, a venture he grew into the world's largest offshore drilling company. He was a supporter of Richard Nixon for President in 1968 and 1972, and in 1973 was appointed Deputy Secretary of Defense, serving until 1977. In 1978 Clements won the Texas governorship, becoming the first Republican elected to the office since Reconstruction. He was defeated for reelection in 1982, but in 1986 he beat incumbent Mark White to regain the governorship, serving from 1987 to 1991. A member of the SMU Board of Governors, in 1987 Clements acknowledged that the board made payments to football players from a fund provided by boosters. According to Clements the board agreed to phase out payments after 1986, but felt obligated to honor existing commitments. As a result of the payments, the NCAA shut down SMU's football program for 1987, and SMU decided not to field a team in 1988. In retirement Clements remained active in Republican politics, including endorsing 2008 presidential nominee John McCain Governor Rick Perry for reelection in 2010.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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