Preceded by David Swinford Political party Republican Party Name Four Price | Occupation Attorney Nationality American | |
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Born October 8, 1967 (age 56)
Amarillo, Texas ( 1967-10-08 ) Spouse(s) Karen Diane Mayfield Price (married 2003) Children Brooke, Cody, Abby, and Curry Price Alma mater Tascosa High School
University of Texas at Austin
St. Mary's University School of Law Education St. Mary's University School of Law, Tascosa High School, University of Texas at Austin | ||
Walter Thomas Price, IV, known as Four Price (born October 8, 1967) is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 87, which includes Carson, Hutchinson, Moore, Potter, and Sherman counties in the Texas Panhandle.
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Background
Price's great-grandfather, Walter T. Price, I, was a farmer who settled in Carson County in the early 1900s. Following in his great-grandfather’s footsteps, Price worked on farms and cattle ranches during high school and college summers, an experience which gained him insight into his state's agriculture and ranching heritage and taught him the value of money.
Price and his wife, Karen, have four children. Price’s oldest children, Brooke and Cody, have attended Texas public universities; his two youngest children, Abby and Curry, Amarillo public schools. The Price family worships at the First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, where Price has served as a deacon.
Price graduated from Amarillo’s Tascosa High School in 1986. He went on to earn a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the Texas Cowboys, and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio. He is a partner in the Amarillo law firm of Irwin, Merritt, Hogue, Price & Carthel, P.C., where he counsels and advises clients on real estate, probate, trust, and business matters. A community leader and volunteer, Price has served as an ex officio member and director for both the Texas Water Foundation and the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, respectively. He has also served as a director of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, president of the Amarillo Area Bar Association director of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Foundation, and director of the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center. He is also a life member of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association. Price is an avid outdoorsman.
Election history
Price was first elected to the Texas House in 2010. After winning a hotly contested primary, he won 77 percent of the vote in the general election.
Soon after taking the oath of office, the Texas Speaker of the House appointed Price to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee. Through hard work on the committee, authoring legislation and passing several water bills into law, Price quickly earned a reputation for a being a serious representative. Fellow Amarillo Republican John Smithee, Dean of the Panhandle/South Plains delegation, said, "Four has already earned a lot of respect and that is the most important asset you can get from the members.
Also during the 82nd legislative session, Price championed bills to combat crime, protect student athletes and increase government efficiency. His fiscal conservatism and limited government efforts were quickly recognized. The Texas Conservative Coalition and the Texas Association of Business recognized Price for his success during his first session and the Texas Conservative Coalition recognized Price as one of the representatives who kept his word in the 2011 legislative session by supporting and voting for conservative principles, including balancing the state budget without raising taxes, improving election integrity, and encouraging the free market. Price was also recognized by the Texas Association of Business when he was named a “Fighter for Free Enterprise.”
In December 2011, Four was appointed to serve as one of five state representatives on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. This body makes recommendations regarding whether state agencies, boards and commissions, should continue to exist, and if so, how to make them more cost efficient. Price was the first freshman legislator to have been appointed to Sunset Commission in many years. The Texas Speaker of the House said that he appointed Representative Price because of his demonstrated support of transparency and efficiency measures.
On January 8, 2013, Price was again sworn into the Texas House for a two-year. He won the Republican primary election with 80 percent of the vote, and secured re-election with 77 percent of the vote in the general election.
For the 83rd session, Price was appointed to the Appropriations Committee, Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee, and Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations. He also served as a member on the Sunset Advisory Commission and is the Chair of Internal Communications of the House Republican Caucus. Price is a member of the Rural Caucus, Community College Caucus, Sportsman’s Caucus and the Veterans Caucus.
On November 4, 2014, Price was reelected to the Texas House for a two-year term, earning 84 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Abel Bosquez.
On January 13, 2015, Price was again sworn into the Texas House for a two-year term for Texas' 84th Legislative Session. His committee assignments for the 84th Legislative Session include Appropriations, where he is chairman of Article II subcommittee that writes nearly half the state's budget for health and human services. Price's additional committee assignments for the 84th Legislative Session include Human Services and Calendars.
Ratings
Price was given a lifetime score of 88% in 2015 and 93% in 2013 by the Texas Association of Business. With regards to being fiscally conservative, the Young Conservatives of Texas gave Price a score of 53% (2015), 50% (2013), and 70% (2011). Additionally, Empower Texans/Texans for Fiscal Responsibility gave price a score of 60% (2015), 42% (2013), and 38% (2011).