|
Texas State Representative Thomas
Latham
| About Mesquite
Native |
| THOMAS
LATHAM |
| District
101 State Representative, 2007-Present |
|
| • |
Vice
Chair, Texas House Law Enforcement Committee
|
| • |
Member,
Texas House Urban Affairs Committee
|
| • |
Member,
Texas Conservative Coalition Task Forces: Property
Tax Reform, Voter Integrity, and Illegal
Immigration Studies
|
| • |
Authored
33 Bills (including Joint) |
| • |
Co-Authored
26 Bills |
| • |
Sponsored
4 Bills (including Joint) |
| • |
Named
2007 Region 10 Legislature of the Year by the
Association of Texas Professional Educators |
| • |
Awarded
prestigious 2007 Fighters for Free Enterprise
Award from the Texas Association of Business
|
| • |
Sunnyvale
Town Council, 2002-2006
|
| • |
Sunnyvale
Planning & Zoning Commission, 2001
|
| • |
Police
officer for 35 years
|
| • |
U.S.
Army 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam
|
| • |
Mesquite
High School Skeeter, Class of 1967
|
| • |
Life
Member, Disabled American Veterans
|
| • |
Member,
Mesquite Rotary Club
|
| • |
Member,
Mesquite Chamber of Commerce |
| • |
Member,
New Liberty Baptist Church
|
| • |
Wife
Mary, 33-year veteran MISD teacher
|
| • |
Daughter
Leslie, MISD teacher, 1998-2005
|
| • |
Grandchildren – Thomas,
Grace, & Mandy
|
| • |
Born
and raised in Mesquite, Texas
|
|
Biographical Information
January 2007
State Representative Thomas Latham has spent most of his
life in Northeast Dallas, living and working in communities
in and around District 101. He went to school in Mesquite;
he made his career as police officer in Garland; and he served
on the town council of Sunnyvale – the community he
calls home.
Thomas had dedicated his life to various realms of public
service. He began early – as a mascot for the Mesquite
Fire Department. In 1968, he joined the United States Army
and served in the NATO/SHAPE Support Group in Europe, and
then volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was assigned to
the 101st Airborne Division.
Thomas and Mary Latham |
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Thomas
returned to Mesquite, Texas. He decided to pursue a career
in law enforcement on August 1, 1966; the tragic day that
an emotionally disturbed man named Charles Whitman climbed
the University of Texas tower in Austin and opened fire on
innocent people below.
Thomas recalls explaining his decision to his uncle. He
said, “Someone has to be willing to go up in the tower
(and apprehend the sniper).”
In 1971 he joined the Garland Police Department and worked
his way through the ranks to Commander. He retired after
30 years, in 2001. Afterward, Thomas pledged his service
and dedication to his community of Sunnyvale.
He was elected to the Sunnyvale Town Council and the Sunnyvale
Board of Adjustments, and was re-elected to both in 2005.
In 2002, he was appointed to the Sunnyvale Planning and Zoning
Commission. In 2003 he broadened his commitment to public
service and joined the Dallas County Sheriff Reserves. He
was selected to serve on the North Central Texas Council
of Governments’ Criminal Justice Policy and Review
Committee in 2004.
Throughout his career, Thomas has been recognized for courage,
determination and leadership. Beyond his career responsibilities,
Thomas has maintained a keen interest in public education.
Nine members of his family, including his wife and daughter,
are involved in public education – in positions ranging
from teachers to administrators.
His wife Mary, a retired teacher, serves on the board of
directors for the Sunnyvale Education Foundation. Both volunteer
for Friends of Texas Public Schools, a non-profit organization
that is devoted to improving public schools through positive
reinforcement and public recognition of school success stories.
The Latham Family
(clockwise from top left): Scott Milder, Mary
Latham, Thomas Latham, Mandy Milder, Leslie Latham-Milder,
Gracie Milder, and Thomas Milder.
|
Thomas and Mary are the proud parents of Leslie Latham-Milder,
who teaches government in public schools in the Dallas area.
Leslie and her husband Scott have three children: Thomas,
Grace and Mandy.
The Lathams are equally proud of their nephew, Nick, who
serves in the U.S. Army. While on a tour of duty in Iraq,
Nick was shot and injured. He refused treatment so he could
continue to serve alongside his fellow soldiers. His bravery
and exemplary service eventually led to a Bronze Star for
valor. Of his nephew, Thomas said, “He’s always
given 110 percent to things that are important to him --
especially his country and his family. He’s exactly
the kind of person you’d want to have defending your
country and protecting your freedom.”
|
