Michael Peter McKool, prominent Dallas attorney, Texas State Senator and former chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Party. Born in Mexico City, Mike came to Dallas as a child with his Lebanese immigrant parents, Charles and Filomena McKool. He graduated from Dallas [Crozier] Tech High School as valedictorian, George Washington University and Southern Methodist University law school. He was naturalized in 1943. Mr. McKool was a staff sergeant and B-24 tail gunner in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Shot down over Yugoslavia, he was rescued by anti-Nazi Chetniks and walked 38 days and 400 miles to escape captivity. He married Betty Raney in 1946. Mr. McKool was dedicated to public service and sought public office several times. He was elected to the Texas State Senate in 1968 and served four years. As a senator, he authored the states voter registration law, fought grocery taxes and high insurance rates. He broke the worlds filibuster record, talking nonstop for 42 hours and 33 minutes in pursuit of funds for mental health and retardation. In 1984-1986, he served as chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Party. Mr. McKool practiced law for 50 years in the law firm he founded in Dallas, specializing in condemnation cases. He founded Democratic Men of Dallas County, was chairman of the Danny Thomas St. Judes Drive to aid children with leukemia, president of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs, and a member of Christ the King Church. He is survived by his wife, Betty; four children, Mike McKool Jr., Mollie McKool, Matt McKool and Mitzi McKool Gadway, all of Dallas; sister, Pat Barton of Dallas; and 20 grandchildren.
Michael Peter McKool, prominent Dallas attorney, Texas State Senator and former chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Party. Born in Mexico City, Mike came to Dallas as a child with his Lebanese immigrant parents, Charles and Filomena McKool. He graduated from Dallas [Crozier] Tech High School as valedictorian, George Washington University and Southern Methodist University law school. He was naturalized in 1943. Mr. McKool was a staff sergeant and B-24 tail gunner in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Shot down over Yugoslavia, he was rescued by anti-Nazi Chetniks and walked 38 days and 400 miles to escape captivity. He married Betty Raney in 1946. Mr. McKool was dedicated to public service and sought public office several times. He was elected to the Texas State Senate in 1968 and served four years. As a senator, he authored the states voter registration law, fought grocery taxes and high insurance rates. He broke the worlds filibuster record, talking nonstop for 42 hours and 33 minutes in pursuit of funds for mental health and retardation. In 1984-1986, he served as chairman of the Dallas County Democratic Party. Mr. McKool practiced law for 50 years in the law firm he founded in Dallas, specializing in condemnation cases. He founded Democratic Men of Dallas County, was chairman of the Danny Thomas St. Judes Drive to aid children with leukemia, president of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs, and a member of Christ the King Church. He is survived by his wife, Betty; four children, Mike McKool Jr., Mollie McKool, Matt McKool and Mitzi McKool Gadway, all of Dallas; sister, Pat Barton of Dallas; and 20 grandchildren.
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