Thomas Lawrence (mayor) Thomas Lawrence (mayor) Thomas Lawrence (1689–1754) was a merchant who was elected to six one-year terms as mayor of Philadelphia between 1729 and his death in 1754. Born in New York City, he moved to Philadelphia in 1720, where, for the rest of his life, Lawrence was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1730, after being associated with James Logan, Lawrence formed a partnership with Edward Shippen; Shippen & Lawrence became one of Philadelphia's leading firms. Apart from his life in private business, Lawrence held several positions of trust in the city, including serving as mayor for six one-year terms,
Don Willett Don Willett Donny Ray Willett (born July 16, 1966) is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was previously appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas on August 24, 2005, when former Justice Priscilla Owen created a vacancy on that court by joining the Fifth Circuit. Willett was born and raised in Talty in Kaufman County. His adoptive father died at the age of 40, when Willett was six, and he and his older sister, Donna, were reared by their