( CNN ) -- William Clements , the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction , died Sunday at the age of 94 . Two of his successors in Austin -- George W. Bush and Rick Perry -- were among those expressing sympathy at the Dallas native 's death , with the former president calling him `` a great man . '' `` He was a political pioneer who served Texas and our country with distinction , '' Bush said in a statement . `` Most of all , he was a friend who will be missed . '' An oil-field roughneck before attending college , Clements first made his name and fortune as a co-founder of SEDCO , the world 's largest offshore drilling company , according to his biography on the Texas State Library 's website . He then served as a deputy U.S. secretary of defense under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford . He scored a surprise victory in 1978 to become Texas governor . Still , his time was short-lived as voters ousted him four years later in favor of Mark White . Perry , the Lone Star State 's current governor , remembered Clements as a `` larger-than-life entrepreneur , public servant ... a mentor ( and ) the father of the modern-day Texas Republican party . '' He ordered flags throughout the state lowered to half-staff in Clements ' honor . `` Gov . Clements is responsible for the growth , success and election of Texas Republicans in every corner of our state , '' Perry said . `` Today , Texans and Americans have lost a leader whose leadership , service and patriotism were unparalleled . ''
William Clements was an oil-field roughneck and entrepreneur . He was elected Texas governor in 1978 , and ousted four years later . George W. Bush remembers him as a `` great man '' and `` political pioneer '' Gov . Rick Perry calls Clements `` the father of the modern-day Republican Party ''