Bob Slagle was born on May 9, 1935 in Sherman, TX and passed away on June 13, 2022. His parents were Judge R. C. Slagle Jr. and Nancy Slagle. Welby Jackson, a wonderful black gentleman, helped raise Bob and taught him his first Bible teachings. Bob spent summers in Saint Jo, TX with his maternal family, the Fields, where he enjoyed riding horses. His favorite horse, Dan, ate ham sandwiches with him and lived to be 35. Bob started school at Bryant Elementary in 1940 and graduated from Sherman, High School in 1953. His closet childhood and lifelong friends were A. D. Gailey, Garnet McGraw, and Bobby Hurst. Bob had one brother, Henry F. Slagle, who he loved dearly. Henry lived his last years with Bob and his wife until his death in 2014. Bob was also close to his nephew, Sam Slagle, and his cousins Stanton Field, Marsha Foster, Bill Payne, and Mary Blanche Payne. Bob also had a niece, Wendi Slagle. Bob lived in Sherman most of his life and loved Sherman. Bob graduated from Texas Christian University in 1959. He attended the University of Texas Law School and was licensed to practice in 1965. He loved the law and continued practicing law the rest of his life. Many of his clients said he helped to change their lives and stayed in touch with him throughout the years. He was proud of his many legal cases, and in particular the 1960’s Brown versus the Denison Independent Schools case that Thomas Rucker assisted Bob, work that led to a lifetime friendship. This case allowed black children to attend the same quality schools as white children. Bob won another groundbreaking case in the 1970’s when he sued Pillsbury regarding the work hour law for women. He practiced law with Roger Sanders, part-time. His very talented and loyal paralegal, Nicole Garza, was with him for many years. Bob served as President of the Grayson County Bar and the Grievance Committee in the 1970s. For Bob, another great love was politics and the Democratic Party.
In 1964, Bob worked for Lyndon Johnson in the White House. As a young man, he was the President of the Young Democrats of Texas.
He served as State Chair of the Texas Democratic Party from 1980 to 1995 and was known as Mr. Chairman to fellow Texas Democrats and Democratic leaders across the country, but he also advocated for Sherman, and worked with Governor Mark White and our legislators to secure funding for what is now our Justice Center, as well as forming the 336th District Court and County Court at Law #2.
During Bob’s first campaign for State Party Chair in 1980, he was asked in an interview about his qualifications for the job. His answer was, quite simply, “I was raised in the Democratic Party.” And Bob was raised well. His father, R.C. Slagle Jr., ran campaigns for Ralph Yarborough and Sam Rayburn, and Bob was involved in politics from a young age.
While in law school, Bob worked for Senator Ralph Hall on Senate redistricting, the first time that the one person, one vote rule was required for state legislative districts. In 1967 and 1968, he was on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) while working in Washington at the DNC and White House as Executive Director of the Young Democrats, where he met many future leaders. In the 1970’s Bob led several State Party efforts, including the 1975 Texas Democratic Party Participation Program, which also served as an affirmative action program for minorities, as well as a Voter Registration program that was ranked as one of best in the country. He then led the 1976 Carter Get Out the Vote effort while serving as the DNC Legal Counsel and Liaison to the legislature.
After his election in 1980, Bob served Texas Democrats as a mentor, advisor, recruiter, a skillful negotiator and a loyal and trusted friend who shared his knowledge by working with them to meet and resolve challenges in the political arena. He treated others with respect, whether he was working with a Governor, a legislator or a Precinct Chair, knowing that respect, for friend and foe alike, is essential to a democracy that works.
In 1981, Bob played a major role in redistricting by supporting the creation of minority opportunity districts and avoiding gratuitous pairings of incumbents elected by the voters. In 1982, he served as a lawyer in the federal redistricting trial and later that year worked with statewide campaigns to implement the first “Coordinated Campaign” that won a Democratic sweep of key statewide and legislative races. Throughout the 1980’s, economic challenges led to political challenges, but Democrats maintained most statewide offices and the legislature, setting the stage for Ann Richards’ 1990 victory and another successful redistricting effort in 1991. Perhaps Bob’s greatest achievement is taken for granted these days: building a party that was no longer controlled by a single statewide officeholder, and in its place, giving Democrats of all races, from all walks of life and every corner of our state, a meaningful role in the workings of their party, while still working closely with our elected officials. Bob worked well with the many constituencies of the party. He could lead the great fight for what we believe in but he also understood the art of compromise. Ann Richards said he was the best Party Chair Texas ever had. Bob retired from the Democratic National Committee and the SDEC in 2012, 32
Bob retired from the Democratic National Committee and the SDEC in 2012, 32 years after his election as Chairman. He was proud to be a Yellow Dog Democrat all his life, but he knew how to cross the aisle and work with both parties. One of his dearest friends was Clyde Siebman. They talked almost every week or month until we lost Clyde in 2021. Bob recently celebrated his 35th anniversary with his wife Susan. He met her playing piano at Kelly Square and they shared a great love for music. He would sometimes sing with his incredible baritone voice Karaoke at the Elks Club on Friday steak nights, his favorite song being “The Blue Bird of Happiness.” He attended the Presbyterian church most of his life but toward the end of his life attended the black Grand Ave. Church of Christ led by Brother Charles Shaw. He knew his Bible an loved God.
Bob taught his 3 boys, Bobby, Andy and R. C. along his grandsons, Jaden and Zachary, football and baseball. He coached them in Little League and Pony League. Bob also had 5 other grandchildren Sara, Aimee, Lauren, Andy, and Seth. He also had a great grandchild, Seth, Jr.. He loved his 100+ pound pit mastiff rescue dog, Tex, that sat in his lap every day. Through his wife, he supported many animal rescue groups and fostered many cats and dogs.
Bob never missed a dance recital for his daughter, Elizabeth who was also born on his birthday and shared great parties with him. He was very proud of her when she was accepted into Teach for America as well as when she and R. C., his son, interned for now House Majority leader, Steny Hoyer. Steny has been a dear friend since 1965. And In 1983, Bob was chosen as a delegate for Atlantic Council of Young Political Leaders to go to Russia.
Bob was extremely well read and could say the Canterbury Tales in Middle English. Bob was a 32nd degree Mason and lifetime member of the Elks. He wore his business suit everyday until the end of his life, with his crisp blue or white shirt and his favorite red tie looped over. Bob was a gentleman whose word was his bond. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed. We are thankful to Ed Martin and all of Bob’s Executive Directors and Party staff “family” who worked closely and loyally with him at the Texas Democratic Party.
We invite everyone to join us at Bob’s Memorial Service on Saturday, June 25, from 1 pm to 5 pm at the old courthouse on the square in Sherman, TX in the East Courtroom, which was Bob’s Dad’s courtroom when he was Judge. We’ll share memories and stories and if you wear a tie, please leave it untied.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Texas Democratic Party or the animal rescue group of your choice.
