Patrick Haggerty
Historical Summary
Patrick B. Haggerty, born in 1944 in Rochester, Minnesota, moved with his family to El Paso in 1950 and went on to build a long career in public service rooted in the city. Educated at St. John's Seminary in San Antonio, St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, and the University of Texas at El Paso, he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1967 and a master's degree in speech and drama in 1980. During the Vietnam era, he served in the U.S. Army and was selected for duty in the United Nations Honor Guard.
Haggerty emerged as a civic leader in El Paso as the first president of Concerned Citizens for Northeast El Paso, advocating for fair treatment of the area. Elected to the El Paso City Council in 1979, he represented Northeast El Paso until 1987, then won election to the Texas Legislature, where he served from 1989 for the next two decades.
In the Texas Legislature, Haggerty used his position on the House Budget-Writing Committee to secure major benefits for El Paso, including initial construction funding for UTEP's Larry K. Durham Sports Center, start-up funds for the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Museum, funding for a second probate court in El Paso County, and support for reviving the Wyler Aerial Tramway. He also co-authored the sports arena bill that helped protect the future of the annual Sun Bowl game and authored 2005 legislation to improve long-term water delivery to El Paso County.
His legislative record also emphasized veterans and military families. He authored a constitutional amendment tripling the homestead exemption for disabled veterans in Texas, helped bring the 160-bed Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home to El Paso, and co-authored legislation granting tuition and fee exemptions to children of military personnel who became totally disabled in service.
Haggerty also became known for probation reform, helping secure $133 million in the Texas budget for new probation programs aimed at rehabilitation for non-violent offenders and long-term state savings. That work earned him the Texas Corrections Association's 2005 Hall of Fame Award. After leaving office in January 2009, he remained active in El Paso as a real estate broker, lobbyist, and advocate for the city in Austin.
Document Transcription
Hall of Honor 2014
Patrick B. Haggerty
Pat Haggerty was born in 1944 in Rochester, Minnesota. The oldest of eleven children, he came to El Paso with his family in 1950. Pat received his high school diploma from St. John's Seminary in San Antonio and then entered college at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. He returned to El Paso to finish his college education at UTEP where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1967 and a master's degree in speech and drama in 1980.
Pat began his service to the United States during the Vietnam era when he served in the U.S. Army. His service included selection for duty in the United Nations Honor Guard.
His service to El Paso started when he was elected the first president of the Concerned Citizens for Northeast El Paso, a group of residents who felt the Northeast wasn't being fairly treated. In 1979 he ran for City Council and was elected. He represented Northeast El Paso until 1987 when he ran for election to the Texas Legislature. He won and represented the City of El Paso beginning in 1989 through the next twenty years.
In the State Legislature Pat's work on the House Budget-Writing Committee proved to be a great benefit for El Paso. He obtained initial construction funding for UTEP's Larry K. Durham Sports Center; start-up funds to establish the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Museum in El Paso; funding for a second probate court for El Paso County; and approval for the effort to resurrect the Wyler Aerial Tramway. Pat co-authored the sports arena bill that will ensure the future viability of the annual Sun Bowl game for which he had been a volunteer since 1994. In 2005 he authored legislation that would improve long-term water delivery to El Paso County.
Pat authored a constitutional amendment that tripled the homestead exemption for disabled veterans in Texas; helped bring the $12 million, 160-bed Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home to El Paso; co-authored legislation to provide tuition and fee exemptions for the children of military personnel who became totally disabled while serving.
Pat's work in probation reform culminated in $133 million being earmarked in the Texas budget for new probation programs that have promised to produce significant savings for the State and facilitate rehabilitation for non-violent offenders. This commitment to probation reform earned him the Texas Corrections Association's 2005 Hall of Fame Award.
Pat left office in January 2009. He continues to work in El Paso as a real estate broker and also as a lobbyist. He also continues to promote El Paso in Austin.
