Born near Kinston in Roane County, Tennessee. Graduate of East Texas Normal College, Commerce, Texas, in 1903. Admitted to the bar in 1908.

Elected to state legislature serving 1907 to 1913. Elected to United States House of Representatives serving March 4, 1913, to 1961. He served as Speaker of the House 1949 to 1953 and 1955 to 1961. His total service in the House lasted 48 years and 8 months. He died in Bonhom, Texas.

Congress honored Rayburn with a gold medal by resolution September 26, 1962, "for services rendered to the people of the United States."

Rayburn appears on a mint medal (USM 656) as part of the National Historic series with obverse by Frank Gasparro. Reverse was by Philip Fowler.

bio: BDC; DAB; EAB; Failor; WAB; WWWA-4 obit: CB Jan 62; NYT 11/17/61