Ben Barnes was born on April 17, 1938 in Gorman, Texas. Together with Ben Barnes’ wife, high school sweetheart Martha Morgan, he adopted daughters Elena (Romania) and Blaire (Russia). Ben Barnes also has two children, Greg and Amy, from his first marriage. Today, he is the proud grandfather of four: Ashley Mathis, Ben Barnes II, Kelly Barnes and Katherine Mathis.

Ben Barnes’ name is renowned in the realm of politics for his significant contributions to Texas. He began as a protégé of Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnson, but through his own mettle, built a reputation for himself. At 22 years of age, he became an official with the Texas House of Representatives while studying at the University of Texas. The university also accorded to him the Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas award in 1995.

At the age of 26, he rose in rank to become Speaker of the House in Texas until 1969, the youngest in state history. In 1963, Ben Barnes became the Chairman of the influential Rules Committee. For his exemplary public service, the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce awarded him the distinguished “Ten Outstanding Young Men in America” in 1965.

During the progressive NATO Conference in 1967, he was sent as the U.S. Representative. In 1968, Ben Barnes was again chosen to be the United Nations Representative to Geneva, Switzerland. He then became the Lt. Governor of Texas, again the youngest ever to win this office. In his tenure he also became the close ally of John Connally, then Texas Governor. In John Kerry’s campaign, he served as the Vice-chair and one of the top fundraisers.

In establishing Ben Barnes Group, a premier lobbying and business consultancy firm, he brought companies and special interest organizations together.

Aside from leading the company, Ben Barnes has also dedicated his efforts to philanthropic work. Genaustin, a network committed to empowering girls, is one of his personal advocacies. Other recipients of Ben Barnes’ staunch support are Texas Civil Rights Project, Austin Community Foundation and Patient Privacy Rights. Several education and arts initiatives such as the Austin Museum of Art and the Fractured Atlas have also been favoured by him. The Ben and Melanie Barnes Endowed Scholarship, which provides aid to the school’s athletics program, was established by Ben Barnes in the University of Texas. He has also functioned as the Vice-President of non-profit organization Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation. The Center for Responsive Politics has listed Barnes as the third largest all-around Democratic donor in America from 1999-2004.