Agnich, Fred J., 1913-

Fred J. Agnich was born on July 19, 1913, in Eveleth, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota where he took a Bachelor of Arts in Geology in 1937. That same year he came to Texas and began working as a geophysicist for Geophysical Services, Inc. (which would become Texas Instruments, Inc.). Mr. Agnich spent many years at Geophysical in exploration for petroleum, abroad and throughout the United States. In 1951 he became Executive Vice President of Texas Instruments; in 1956 President; retiring from the board in 1961.

Mr. Agnich worked in fund raising for a number of years, successfully campaigning for the Republican Party during the 1950s. In 1960 he chaired fund raising activities for Richard Nixon and in 1964 for Barry Goldwater. Agnich accepted the position of Dallas County Republican Party Chairman in 1966 and in 1972 was elected Republican National Committeeman by his fellow Texas Republicans.

In 1969 Fred Agnich was approached with the suggestion of running for the Texas legislature. He accepted the challenge and won easily in 1970 on a Republican ticket from District 33-R, Dallas. He ran for and successfully won that legislative seat until stepping down in 1988. While in the Texas House of Representatives he served on a variety of committees, though most often on Appropriations and Finance, chairing the Environmental Affairs Subcommittee on Wildlife throughout his legislative career.

Agnich's interest in the environment grew out of his experiences in building and managing his 3500 acre ranch, located southeast of Athens, Texas, during the 1960s. Not only was it a working ranch, he used his considerable engineering and geological expertise to build a 3000 foot dam which filled a 500 acre lake. Agnich turned this area into a huge wildlife refuge which he used to research conservation strategies; experience to be utilized later in his political work.

During his career in Austin, Fred Agnich served in the 63rd Legislature, which had been entrusted by the citizens of Texas to rewrite the Texas Constitution, unaltered since 1876. Agnich served on the Finance Committee. Conducting research and preliminary studies during 1973, the Constitutional Convention was held in 1974. Although eventually rejected by the voters, the work of the 63rd Legislature remains a landmark event in Texas history.

Mr. Agnich retired in 1986 to his home in Dallas, where he lives with his wife, Brooksie. Of his three children, William, Richard and James, Richard resides in the Dallas area.

From the guide to the Fred J. Agnich Papers AR350., 1970-1988, (Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library)