- published: 27 Feb 2015
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Robert Douglas Bullock, Sr., known as Bob Bullock (July 10, 1929 – June 18, 1999), was a Democratic politician from Texas, whose career spanned four decades. His service culminated in his term as the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Texas from January 15, 1991 to January 19, 1999 during the terms of Governors Ann W. Richards and George W. Bush.
Bullock began his career in public service as a member of the Texas House of Representatives in the 1960s. After a stint as an assistant attorney general and in the private practice of law, Bullock returned to public life when he was appointed secretary of state, the state's chief elections and records officer, by Governor Preston Smith. Bullock soon left the post to prepare for a statewide race for state Comptroller in the 1974 Democratic primary. Under Texas law, a secretary of state must resign in order to run for another office, a practice not required in most states and served for the first of four 4-year consecutive terms for sixteen years.
Bullock, before he was widely known, was one of the few Texas Democrats to chastize John Connally for his party switch in 1973. In 1998, Bullock himself would urge the reelection of a Republican, then-Governor Bush.