Allen Vaught - Texas State Representative

State: Texas

Office: State Representative (HD-107)

Website: http://www.allenvaught.com/

Allen Vaught, his wife Donna, and son Jonathan live in Lakewood Heights in Dallas.  Allen was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for his first time on November 7th, 2006 to represent District 107, which covers the area in east Dallas surrounding White Rock Lake--including Lakewood and parts of Lake Highlands, Garland, and Mesquite.  Allen and his family attend St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.   

When he took office on January 9th, 2007, Allen was appointed Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and also served on the committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues.

Having grown up on a ranch west of Fort Worth in Wise County, Allen graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1990, and Baylor University in 1995 with a B.B.A. in accounting. He obtained his law degree from the South Texas College of Law in 1997.  

Allen is the managing attorney of the Dallas office of Franklin, Cardwell, & Jones, P.C., and has a diverse practice which ranges from defending doctors in medical malpractice cases to representing cancer victims in environmental toxin cases.  A national leader in protecting victims of environmental pollution and corporate misconduct, he focuses on helping oilfield workers with cancer and other health problems related to exposure to environmental toxins.  Allen was himself a roughneck on drilling rigs in the early 1990's while working to pay for college, and his family has a long history of working in the oilfields of north Texas.  So it is with much pride that he fights for oilfield workers today. 

Allen attended the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, NC, graduating in 2001. As a reserve Captain, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, performing civil affairs and psychological operations missions.  Allen served in Iraq from April 2003 to March 2004.  He commanded one of the first units to enter Fallujah, assigned to rebuild that city and win the hearts and minds of its citizens.  He was responsible for operating the local government and supervising programs to help its people.  Allen served as the de facto mayor of Fallujah.

After six months of operations in Fallujah while under fire from insurgents, Allen was transferred to Sadr City, Baghdad, to teach legislative process to multiple tribal/neighborhood councils, each of which was designed to operate much like an American city. While transporting two daughters of a local tribal leader to an American hospital, Allen's convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device and small arms ambush. His back was fractured in the fight. 

Allen was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Reserve.  In addition, Allen was awarded the Combat Action Badge, Valorous Unit Award and numerous other awards for his service.