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The firm's roots reach deep into Texas soil. During the 1930s, Texas Attorney General James V. Allred assembled an amazing group of assistants, including future U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough, future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark, and Robert Anderson, Secretary of the Treasury during the Eisenhower administration. Great things also lay in store for two other assistants at the time, Everett Looney and Edward Clark, founders of the firm.
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Born in 1900, Looney graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1922 and developed a reputation during the '30s prosecuting antitrust cases in the Attorney General's office. His work enhanced Allred's reputation as a progressive trust buster and helped catapult Allred into the Governor's Mansion. Looney was described as part of the governor's "brain trust" during Allred's administration.
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Everett Looney:
Founding partner has been called "the last complete lawyer."
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Clark, born in 1906 and a 1928 graduate of the UT law school, took an active role in state politics and was elected county attorney of San Augustine. He accepted an appointment as assistant attorney general in 1932 and enforced the state's oil and gas conservation laws in the burgeoning East Texas Oil Field.
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Attorney Edward Clark and influential friends in 1940. (Left to right) Clark, E.H. "Commodore"
Perry, Herman Brown, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Austin Mayor Tom Miller.
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When Allred was elected governor in 1935, he appointed Clark his right-hand man—his first secretary. Clark rapidly became known in Austin and throughout the state as one of the most influential men in government. After a constitutional amendment was passed in 1936 strengthening the position of secretary of state, Allred appointed Clark to that position. As noted by Robert A. Caro in his book The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power: "Of all the men Johnson met in Austin, Ed Clark was the one who, over the long years to come, would acquire and hold the most power."
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When Congressman Buck Buchanan died in 1937, Johnson announced for the position. Although Governor Allred officially adopted a position of neutrality in the race, he detailed Clark to work on the campaign and Clark became one of Johnson's significant fund-raisers.
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After Allred was appointed to the U.S. District Court bench by Franklin Roosevelt in 1938, he counseled Looney and Clark to begin a law firm, believing each had talents that would complement the other. They agreed and the partnership of Looney and Clark began in December 1938. The firm's first client was Herman Brown, a founder of Brown & Root, Inc. and owner of the recently completed Brown Building. Brown agreed to pay the law firm a monthly retainer— equal to the monthly rent—if it would locate in the new building.
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Edward Clark riding a longhorn in support of FDR's presidential campaign
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Edward Clark with President Johnson, 1965
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For the remainder of their lives, Looney and Clark participated in all Johnson campaigns. Clark served as a senior adviser and fund-raiser. Looney made speeches and worked as legal counsel. Looney also handled legal matters associated with the varied business interests of the Johnson family.
Clark continued his political association with Johnson through the presidential years, serving as Ambassador to Australia from 1965 to 1968, U.S. Commissioner to Hemisfair in 1968, and Executive Director of the Inter-American Bank the same year.
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