Ben Barnes

Ben Barnes is an American Original. A self-made man, Barnes was selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door in Texas while he attended college. Putting together a solid, yet irregular campaign, the 22-year-old Barnes won a seat at the Texas House of Representatives. He did this while still taking classes. As he prepared to take finals in 1965, Ben Barnes, then a protégé of both President Lyndon B. Johnson and Texas Governor John Connally, was elected to Speaker of the House – the youngest in Texas state history at age 26. As a politician Ben Barnes worked on numerous national committees for President Johnson, a Texas native himself. Barnes’ ability to appeal to people and his political foresight shot him into world of politics. The relationships he created in the 60s with President Johnson and Governor Connally would become relationships that lasted a lifetime through friendship and business. Barnes reached his political peak in 1969 by being elected to Lt. Governor of Texas. Throughout his thirteen-year political career Ben Barnes built up a network that would support his ideas and ventures his entire life. He supported legislation that assured rights for educators, handicapped, elderly, and his pet project: students. Barnes increased state spending on higher education 300 percent during his four terms in Texas politics.

The former Lt. Governor of Texas Ben Barnes’ passage into business from politics was a simple one. Using his vast network of contacts, Barnes was able to get a foothold in business and lobbying and never let go. In the early 80s he slipped a bit, but only to return, stronger than ever in the 90s. He founded a company, the Ben Barnes Group that specializes in business consulting and lobbying. He has lobbied on behalf of over two dozen companies and has served as either director or chairman of those companies.

Ben Barnes grew up on a peanut farm, sold vacuums, ran for Governor, talked business with Presidents, went broke, resurrected his financial life and made millions in the process. Ben Barnes is truly an American Original.