Lee Satterwhite

Robert Lee Satterwhite (January 28, 1871 – November 29, 1959) was an American politician and newspaperman. A Democrat, he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, including a term as Speaker of the House.

Early life Satterwhite was born on January 28, 1871, in Nevada County, Arkansas, the son of James L. Satterwhite and Mary Jane (née Basden) Satterwhite. His maternal grandfather was W. R. Basden, a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He was named for Robert E. Lee. In 1885, he and his family moved to Freestone County, Texas.

Satterwhite was a Democrat. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, from January 8, 1901, to January 13, 1903. He served again, from January 14, 1919, to January 8, 1929, and again from January 13, 1931, to January 10, 1933. He represented the 57th district in his first term; the 125th district in his second and third term; the 123rd district in his fourth, fifth, and sixth term; and the 8th district in his seventh and final term. In his fifth term, from January 13, 1925, to January 11, 1927, he was Speaker of the House. While Speaker, he oversaw reforms to the state law. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1944 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election and the 1946 Texas State House of Representatives Election.

Personal life and death On August 17, 1893, Satterwhite married Bessie Weaver, with whom he had four children. She died in 1920, after which he married Lula Satterwhite. He was a Missionary Baptist. He died on November 29, 1959, aged 88, in Houston, and was buried at Panhandle Cemetery.