Hon. Bob Eckhardt (deceased)

Region: Hill Country

Topics: Legislation, Law, Open beaches, Pollution, Oysters, Houston Ship Channel, Big Thicket

 

First elected to represent the Houston-Galveston area in the Texas House in 1959, Rep. Eckhardt later served in the federal House of Representatives. Building on his labor law background, he was instrumental in efforts to protect workers and others from hazardous substances and practices through developing state OSHA protections, and in pressing for passage of the Toxic Substances Control Act. He also played critical roles in a variety of habitat and open space initiatives, including maintaining open public access to Texas beaches, protecting Galveston Bay's oyster reefs from shell dredging, acquiring the Big Thicket National Preserve, and improving water quality in the Houston Ship Channel. 

Interviewed

February 19, 1997
Austin, Texas
Reel 1001

June 30, 1997
Austin, Texas
Reel 1011