Palestine High School Alumni Association

Thomas Augustus Pickett

Thomas Augustus Pickett

08 / 14 / 1906  –  06 / 07 / 1980

Mr. Pickett died in Leesburg, Florida, June 7, 1980. His remains were cremated and his ashes were interred at St. James Episcopal Church.

He was born August 14, 1906 in Travis, Falls County, Texas. He attended public schools of Palestine and the University of Texas at Austin.

In 1929 he was admitted to the Texas Bar and practiced law in Palestine. From 1931 to 1935 he was the County Attorney, Anderson County.

He and Louise Watson of Athens were married on August 30, 1938. From 1935-1945 he served as the District Attorney, 3rd Judicial District of Texas.

In 1944 he was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress. He served from 1945-1952 as a member of the U. S. Congress for the 7th Texas District. Rep. Pickett served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Administration Committee, and the Judiciary Committee, as well as working on veteran’s cases and legislation. One case involved a request for a Civil War Veteran’s headstone.

Mr. Pickett resigned on June 30, 1952. John V. Dowdy, Sr. took his seat in the U. S. House of Representatives.

From July 1, 1952 to March 31, 1961 he worked as Vice President of the National Coal Association. He worked as Vice President of the Association of American Railroads from April 2, 1961 to November 30, 1967.

From 1967 until his death, he was a resident of Leesburg, Florida.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774-1989, Bicentennial Edition, 1989, p. 1646.