Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn was born on January 6, 1882, in Kingston, Tennessee. Famous for his integrity, Rayburn served as speaker of the House of Representatives longer than anyone else and spent 49 consecutive years in Congress. Rayburn’s family moved to Windom, Texas, in 1887. His family lived in poverty, as he and his nine siblings helped his parents work their farm. These experiences made Rayburn determined to receive a good education and help the poor. He went on to attend East Texas Normal College (known today as Texas A&M University – Commerce). He rang the school bell and swept the floors to earn money for his expenses. He graduated in 1903 and taught school for two years.