George H. Mahon

George Herman Mahon (September 22, 1900 - November 19, 1985) was a Texas politician and served 22 consecutive terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

George H. Mahon
Mahon, c. 1965
41st Dean of the United States House of Representatives
In office March 7, 1976 – January 3, 1979
Preceded by	Wright Patman
Succeeded by	Jamie Whitten
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee
In office April 12, 1964 – January 3, 1979
Preceded by	Clarence Cannon
Succeeded by	Jamie Whitten
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 19th district
In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1979
Preceded by	Joseph Weldon Bailey Jr.
Succeeded by	Kent Hance
Personal details
Born	(1900-09-22)September 22, 1900 Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	November 19, 1985(1985-11-19) (aged 85) San Angelo, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Helen Stevenson ​ (m. 1923)​
Children	1
Parents	John Kirkpatrick Mahon (father) Lola Willis (mother)
Alma mater	Hardin–Simmons University University of Texas School of Law
Occupation	Lawyer politician

Born in Mahon, Louisiana near Haynesville, Louisiana, Mahon's family moved to Texas when he was a child. He graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas in 1924. Mahon graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1925. Mahon was elected county attorney for Mitchell County, Texas in 1926 and he served as district attorney of the thirty-second judicial district of Texas from 1927 to 1933.

Mahon was elected to the House of Representatives in 1934 as a Democrat. He was a delegate to each Democratic National Convention from 1936 to 1964. Mahon was the chairman of the Appropriations committee from 1964 until his retirement from the House in 1979. Mahon was also appointed on the panel for the Manhattan Project.

After his years in the House, Mahon stayed in Washington to work with the Smithsonian. He served as a regent of the Smithsonian Institution from 1964 to 1978.

Mahon died on November 19, 1985 in San Angelo, Texas, due to complications from surgery. He is interred in the Loraine City Cemetery, Loraine, Texas.