Ralph Yarborough

ABOUT RALPH YARBOROUGH

Texas politician and Democratic politician who was the United States Senator from 1957 to 1971. He was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of his party.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II after 1943 and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was one of the prominent authors of "Great Society" legislation that encompassed Medicare and Medicaid, the War on Poverty, federal support for higher education and veterans and was the only southern senator to vote for all civil rights bills from 1957 to 1970.

He was married to Opal Warren Yarborough.

He was succeed by Lloyd Bentsen as a US Senator from Texas.