Teel Bivins

Teel Bivins
Teel Bivins
18th United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden
	In office; May 25, 2004 – January 31, 2006
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Charles A. Heimbold Jr.
Succeeded by	Michael M. Wood
Member of the Texas Senate; from the 31st district
	In office; January 10, 1989 – January 12, 2004
Preceded by	Bill Sarpalius
Succeeded by	Kel Seliger
Personal details
Born	Miles Teel Bivins; November 22, 1947; Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 26, 2009 (aged 61); Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Cornelia, Nancy, Patricia
Children	4
Relatives	Lee Bivins (great-grandfather)
Education	Tulane University (BA); Southern Methodist University (JD)

Bivins home front (left) and east side (right)

Miles Teel Bivins (November 22, 1947^[1] – October 26, 2009) was an American diplomat and politician. He served as a Republican member for the 31st district of the Texas Senate,^[2] and also as the 18th United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.^[1]

Early life and education

Born in Amarillo, Texas, Bivins was the son of Betty Teel Lovell and Lee Truscott Bivins.^[1] He had three brothers.^[1] He attended the Colorado Academy and then Tulane University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970.^[1] He also attended Southern Methodist University's law school, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1974.^[1]

In 1989, Bivins won election in the 31st district of the Texas Senate.^[1]^[2] He succeeded politician Bill Sarpalius. Bivins was listed in Texas Monthly's "The Best and Worst Legislators" four times.^[2] In 2004, he was succeeded by Kel Seliger in a special election.^[3]

Bivins then served as the 18th United States ambassador to Sweden,^[1] having been nominated by President George W. Bush.^[1] In 2006, Bivins became ill and resigned from his post; he was succeeded by Michael M. Wood.

Bivins returned to the United States to reside in Texas. He endowed the Teel Bivins Chair of Political Science at West Texas A&M University.^[1]

Bivins died on October 26, 2009, in Texas, at the age of 61.^[1]

Election history of Bivins from 1992.^[4]

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 31^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Teel Bivins (Incumbent)	118,938	100.00	0.00
Majority			118,938	100.00	0.00
Turnout			118,938		+21.16
	Republican hold

Texas general election, 1998: Senate District 31^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Teel Bivins (Incumbent)	98,165	100.00	0.00
Majority			98,165	100.00	0.00
Turnout			98,165		−15.34
	Republican hold

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 31^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Teel Bivins (Incumbent)	115,951	100.00	0.00
Majority			115,951	100.00	0.00
Turnout			115,951		−16.76
	Republican hold

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "Miles Bivins Obituary (1947-2009)". The Dallas Morning News. October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Teel Bivins". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
^ "Teel Bivins' fill-in takes early lead". Houston Chronicle. March 10, 2004. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
^ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
^ "1998 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
^ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
^ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2007.

Texas Senate
Preceded by Bill Sarpalius	Texas State Senator from District 31 (Amarillo) 1989–2004	Succeeded by Kel Seliger
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Charles A. Heimbold Jr.	U.S. Ambassador to Sweden 2004–2006	Succeeded by Michael M. Wood