As part of the reform movement in state politics stemming from the Sharpstown scandal, Briscoe won election as governor in 1972.

During his six years as governor, Briscoe presided during a period of reform in state government as Texas's population and commerce boomed.

He is recognized as having been one of the leading citizens of the state and a benevolent supporter of many civic, cultural, and educational institutions in Texas and the nation.

He was active in many campus organizations, including the Friar Society, the Texas Cowboys, Chi Phi fraternity, and was editor of The Cactus yearbook.

[2][3] In 1968, Briscoe attempted to reenter the political arena, when he joined a list of candidates seeking to replace retiring Texas Gov.

Dolph Briscoe also advocated a reduction of the state speed limit to 55 mph in the aftermath of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo.

Briscoe ran for a third term in 1978, but lost to then-Texas Attorney General John Luke Hill in the 1978 Democratic primary.

Hill would go on to narrowly lose to businessman Bill Clements in the general election, marking the first time the Democratic Party had lost the Texas governorship since Reconstruction.

The former governor was also active in the philanthropic community, having given several million dollars to various Texas institutions, mostly centered in and around the San Antonio area.

In 2006, he gave a sizeable gift to the Witte Museum, a local gallery which features exhibits specifically geared towards Children.

[7] The CMC will serve patients of southwest Texas counties (Uvalde, Real, Zavala, Edwards, Medina, Maverick, Val Verde, Dimmit and Kinney) who otherwise would have to drive to San Antonio for radiation therapy.

[2] A public viewing for the former Texas Governor was held at the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Funeral Home chapel on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 and funeral services were held at the Saint Phillip's Episcopal Church in Uvalde on July 1, 2010 where thousands of mourners including former Governor Mark White, then-Governor Rick Perry, then-Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, former Houston Mayor Bill White and others attended the service.