Emma Spurlin Patman and Wright Patman
Emma (Spurlin) Patman was the mother of Wright Patman (1893–1976), a Texas congressman for 47 years, co-author of the Robinson–Patman Act and longtime chairman of the House Banking Committee.
Sourcing: strong 4 reference · 1 genealogy
The most prominent politician with direct Spurlin ancestry found in this research is Wright Patman, a longtime Democratic congressman from Texas. The Handbook of Texas, Wikipedia and the Political Graveyard all name his mother as Emma (Spurlin) Patman.[1][2][3]
Family
The Handbook of Texas says Wright Patman, "the son of John N. and Emma (Spurlin) Patman, was born near Hughes Springs in Cass County, Texas, on August 6, 1893."[1] The Political Graveyard gives his full name as John William Wright Patman. Its surname index lists him under SPURLIN as a cross-reference, because it has no politician surnamed Spurlin.[3][4] His son, William Neff Patman, served in the Texas Senate from 1961 to 1980 and in the U.S. House from 1981 to 1985.[3] He was therefore Emma Spurlin Patman's grandson.
Wright Patman's career
Patman graduated from Hughes Springs High School in 1912 and earned a law degree from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1916.[2] He served in the Texas House of Representatives and as district attorney of the Fifth Judicial District.[1][2] He then represented Texas's 1st congressional district from 1929 until his death in 1976.[2][3] He co-sponsored the Robinson–Patman Act of 1936, which limited price discrimination that favored large chain retailers.[2] He chaired the House Banking and Currency Committee from 1963 to 1975 and was Dean of the House from 1973 to 1976.[1][2]
Spurlin genealogy
A user-contributed WikiTree profile for Patman exists, but this article did not check its lineage for Emma Spurlin.[5] No source here connects her to a particular Spurlin line, such as the Texas Spurlins described in Spurlins of Hamilton County, Texas.
See also
- Spurlins in public service · People strong
A roundup of people surnamed Spurlin (and, separately, Spurling) in government, politics, the military and the courts, from a 19th-century Indiana sheriff to a Kentucky utility commissioner and recent local candidates, with links to the individual articles. - Spurlins of Hamilton County, Texas · History strong
John L. Spurlin (1853–1935), a Hamilton merchant, banker and railroad promoter and a nephew of John H. Reagan, was a founding director of the Hamilton National Bank in 1890 and gave his name to the railroad town of Spurlin in northwestern Hamilton County. - Early Spurlin and Spurling families in America · Genealogy mixed
Spurlin and Spurling families appear in colonial Virginia and North Carolina in the 18th century and moved west and south into Indiana, Alabama and Texas during the 19th century. Their European origins are still debated. - Notable Spurlins · People strong
An index of notable people surnamed Spurlin, with related Spurling-surname figures listed separately as variants.
References
- ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Patman, John William Wright — Handbook of Texas Online (Texas State Historical Association) Reference
- ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Wright Patman — Wikipedia Reference
- ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Index to Politicians: Pat to Pattersen (John William Wright Patman) — The Political Graveyard — Patman biography; 'Son of John Patman and Emma (Spurlin) Patman' Reference
- ↑ Index to Politicians: Sproat to Staffin (SPURLIN, SPURLING entries) — The Political Graveyard — Surname index; SPURLIN cross-reference to Wright Patman; Spurling entries Reference
- ↑ John William Wright Patman (1893-1976) — WikiTree — Seen in search results; not reviewed in detail Genealogy
Last reviewed 2026-09-24.