Choice B. Randell

Choice Boswell Randell
United States Congressman Texas 4th Congressional District
In office 1903–1913
Preceded by	Morris Sheppard
Succeeded by	Sam Rayburn
United States Congressman Texas 5th Congressional District
In office 1901–1903
Preceded by	Joseph W. Bailey
Succeeded by	James Andrew Beall
County Attorney Grayson County
In office 1882–1888
City Attorney Denison, Texas
In office 1882–1882
Personal details
Born	January 1, 1857(1857-01-01) Murray County, Georgia
Died	October 19, 1945(1945-10-19) (aged 88) Sherman, Texas
Resting place	West Hill Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Anna Marschalk
Children	Andrew
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Presbyterian
Military service
Allegiance	Texas State Militia
Unit	Fourth Texas Regiment

Choice Boswell Randell (January 1, 1857 – October 19, 1945) was a U.S. Representative from Texas, nephew of Lucius Jeremiah Gartrell.

Biography

Charles Boswell Randell was born to James L. and Louisa Amantha (Gartrell) Randell in Murray County, Georgia.^[1]

He attended public and private schools and the North Georgia Agricultural College at Dahlonega, Georgia, but did not graduate. Instead, he changed his course of study to law and was admitted to the Georgia State Bar in 1878.^[2] Randell commenced his law practice in Denison, Texas, in January 1879. He moved to Sherman, Texas, in 1882 and continued the practice of law.

Public service

Randell was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-seventh and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1913). He was non-supportive of women's suffrage and expressed in a letter to women's Suffragette leader Ermina Thompson Folsom that his concern was race-based.^[3] Randell was the author of the Anti-Graft Resolutions to prevent members of United States Congress from receiving gifts or fees from anyone with business before Congress.^[4]

With pending reapportionment of his Congressional district, Randall chose to make a bid for the United States Senate in 1912, rather than run for re-election as a member of the United States House of Representatives.^[4] Randall was unsuccessful in his Senate bid, and Sam Rayburn succeeded him as Congressman.

After his career in public service ended, Randell resumed the practice of law.

Death

He died in Sherman, Texas, October 19, 1945, and is interred in West Hill Cemetery.^[5]

Fraternal memberships

Choice B. Randell had membership^[6] in the following organizations:

• Freemasons
• Knights of Pythias
• Odd Fellows
• Woodmen of the World
• Improved Order of Red Men

References

1. ^ Guttery, Ben (2008). Representing Texas: a Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 978-1419678844. 
2. ^ Hart, Brian: Choice B Randell from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 16 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
3. ^ Erminia Thompson Folsom Papers. "C.B. Randell to Erminia Thompson Folsom, November 25, 1910". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/suffrage/comesofage/randell-folsom.html. Retrieved 17 July 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Champagne, Anthony; Harris, Dr. Douglas B; Riddlesperger Jr, James W; Nelson, Dr. Garrison (2009). The Austin-Boston Connection: Five Decades of House Democratic Leadership, 1937-1989. TAMU. p. 36. ISBN 978-1603441209. 
5. ^ "Grave of Choice B Randell". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7684289. Retrieved 17 July 2010. 
6. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Choice B Randell-The Political Graveyard". The Political Graveyard. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/randall-randlett.html#R9M0JABPX. Retrieved 16 July 2010. 

Sources

• Choice B. Randell at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Joseph Weldon Bailey	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 5th congressional district 1901-1903	Succeeded by James Andrew Beall
Preceded by Morris Sheppard	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 4th congressional district 1903-1913	Succeeded by Sam Rayburn

Persondata
Name	Randell, Choice Boswell
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 1, 1857
Place of birth	Murray County, Georgia
Date of death	October 19, 1945
Place of death	Sherman, Texas