By Scott Harvey
Bonham – The Sam Rayburn Library and Museum in Bonham is now a Texas Historic Landmark. A large plaque depicting the former Speaker of the House's years of service was presented to the facility during a ceremony Tuesday.
Rayburn's nearly five decades as congressman included a 17 year tenure as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the longest in our nation's history.
The library, which was established in 1957, exhibits photographs, original letters, political artifacts and personal memorabilia relating to the important events in his life.
A 1903 graduate of East Texas Normal College, now Texas A&M University-Commerce, Rayburn will forever be associated with university's Student Center name (Sam Rayburn Student Center). In addition, a more than 8 foot tall statue of the former Speaker sits atop the steps of the building's front entrance.