Background
Goolsby was born in Colbert in Bryan County in southern Oklahoma.
Goolsby was born in Colbert in Bryan County in southern Oklahoma.
He graduated from Longview High School in Longview in East Texas. In 1961, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas in Denton, where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity.
In two earlier terms from 1989 to 1993, he represented District 114, also in Dallas County. He was an officer in the United States Army. Thereafter, he was in the insurance business.
Goolsby was initially elected in 1988 to succeed the retiring District 114 Republican Fred Agnich, a former vice chairman of the Republican National Committee and a former president of the Dallas-based Texas Instruments.Though unopposed for re-nomination in the 2008 Republican primary, Goolsby was unseated in the general election by the Democrat Carol Kent, 21,675 (53 percent) to 19,210 (47 percent).In his last successful election in 2006, he had defeated another Democratic woman, Harriet Miller, 13,166 (529 percent) to 11,613 (458 percent).Kent served one term and was herself unseated in 2010 by the African American Republican Stefani Carter.
In 2001, Phyllis Schlafly"s Eagle Forum rated Goolsby 86 percent conservative, among the higher evaluations of Texas lawmakers. Representative Goolsby voted in 2006 to establish the Property Tax Relief Fund, a measure designed to reduce school district property taxes for maintenance and operation.
He also supported legislation to establish a minimum value for registration and tax purposes when an individual sells his own used vehicle to another. Goolsby supported legislation to allow an individual to use deadly force in self-defense.
In 2007, he supported a pay increase for public school employees which excluded retirees.
Goolsby voted to require photo identification for voting or the use of two non-photo Idaho cards to verify a person"s identity. He voted with the House majority to reduce the fee for a marriage license from $60 to $30. Goolsby voted against casino gambling on Indian reservations.
The measure died in the House on a 66-66 vote.
Goolsby supported legislation in 2007 to permit religious expression in public schools. The suit contends that George and Goolsby filed a false voter complaint against Miller with the district attorney of Dallas County.
Miller then claimed that the complaint was used in 2006 to attack her campaign and to suppress African-American voter turnout in District 102. After he left the legislature after twenty years, Goolsby became a lobbyist at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
In 2011, Goolsby indicated that he planned to seek the District 8 seat in the Texas State Senate to succeed the retiring Republican Florence Shapiro of Plano, but he never sought the post.
The Goolsbys reside in Richardson, an inner suburb of Dallas. Goolsby is United Methodist.
Signed into law by Governor Rick Perry, the measure allows students to express their religious beliefs in classroom assignments, to organize prayer groups and other religious clubs, and permits speakers at school events such as graduation ceremonies to mention religious viewpoints.
Member of Southern Methodist University Mustang Club, Dallas County Republican Mens Club, America Heart Association, Prestonwood Homeowners Association, Richardson Chamber of Commerce, North Dallas Chamber of C., Greater Dallas Chamber of C., Indiana Insurance Agents Dallas, Indiana Insurance Agents Texas (chairman, regional chairman), National Federation Indiana Business Association.
Married Toppy Goolsby. Children: Cherrie, Brooke, Mellie.