Wilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel (March 11, 1890 – May 11, 1969) was an American Democratic Party politician from Texas, who came to prominence by hosting a popular radio program. Known for his populist appeal and support of Texas's business community, O'Daniel served as the 34th governor of Texas (1939–1941) and later its junior United States senator (1941–1949). O'Daniel chose not to run for reelection to the Senate in 1948 and was succeeded by future U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson.
O'Daniel was born in Malta, Ohio. His father was killed in an accident while O'Daniel was a boy, and his mother remarried. The family moved to a cattle ranch near Arlington, Kansas. O'Daniel attended local schools and graduated from the two-year program at Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kansas. In 1909 he relocated to Anthony, Kansas to become a stenographer and bookkeeper for a flour milling company. After time with companies in Kansas City, Missouri and New Orleans, in 1925 he began to work for the Burrus Mill flour company in Fort Worth.
Radio fameedit
In the late 1920s, O'Daniel assumed responsibility for the Burrus company's radio advertising. To that end, he wrote songs, sang, and hired a group of musicians to form an old timey band to back his vocals. Originally called the Light Crust Doughboys, notable musicians such as Bob Wills got their start with O'Daniel. After the Doughboys split up, O'Daniel formed the Western swing band Pat O'Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys. The new group was named after O'Daniel's own Hillbilly Flour Company. O'Daniel also hosted a regular noontime radio show heard statewide, which gave him his nickname after a catchphrase used frequently on air – "pass the biscuits, Pappy" – and propelled him into the public spotlight. By the mid-1930s, "Pappy" O'Daniel was a household name in Texas. As a national magazine reporter wrote at the time: "At twelve-thirty sharp each day, a fifteen-minute silence reigned in the state of Texas, broken only by mountain music, and the dulcet voice of W. Lee O'Daniel." The show extolled the values of Hillbilly brand flour, the Ten Commandments and the Bible.[2][3][4][5]
Political careeredit
Governoredit
In 1938, he ran for governor of Texas as a Democrat. O'Daniel's campaign hailed his flour and the need for pensions and tax cuts. He promised to block a sales tax and raise pensions. O'Daniel won the Democratic primary election with 51 percent of the ballots over twelve opponents. In office, he seemingly went against his campaign promise by proposing a new transaction tax, which was voted down by the Texas Legislature. Despite this position change, he remained personally popular and handily won re-election in 1940. In both elections, his main competition came from Texas Railroad Commissioner Ernest O. Thompson, the former mayor of Amarillo.
U.S. Senateedit
In 1941, O'Daniel ran for the United States Senate in a special election. He defeated Lyndon Johnson by 1,311 votes in one of the most controversial elections in state history.[6] As a result of this experience, in the 1948 election, Johnson prepared for a close runoff by arranging for his supporters who controlled votes, including George Parr, to withhold their final tallies until the statewide results were announced.[7] As a senator, O'Daniel was ineffective, and most of his legislation was defeated.[8] He endorsed the anti-RooseveltTexas Regulars in the 1944 presidential election. Elected to a full term in 1942, O'Daniel refused to run for another term in 1948.
Later careeredit
After leaving the Senate, O'Daniel bought a ranch near Fort Worth. He invested in real estate in Dallas and was also active in the insurance business.
O'Daniel ran for governor in 1956 and 1958 and claimed that the Brown v. Board of Education decision was part of a Communist conspiracy. He finished third in the Democratic primaries both times.
^"Beautiful Texas by Pappy O'Daniel". Tsl.state.tx.us. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
^Green, George N. (June 15, 2010). "O'Daniel Wilbert Lee [Pappy]". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
^Malone, Bill C. (2002). "The Cowboy Image and the Growth of Western Music". Country Music, U.S.A.: Second Revised Edition. University of Texas Press. p. 151. ISBN978-0-292-75262-7.
^Crawford, Bill (2004). Please Pass the Biscuits, Pappy: Pictures of Governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel. John Anderson. University of Texas Press. ISBN978-0-292-70575-3.
^Woods, Randall Bennett (2007). "Pappy". LBJ: Architect of American Ambition. Harvard University Press. p. 148. ISBN978-0-674-02699-5.
^Caro, Robert A. (1982). The years of Lyndon Johnson. the Path to Power. Penguin Random House.
^Mellen, Joan (2016). Faustian Bargains: Lyndon Johnson and Mac Wallace in the Robber Baron Culture of Texas. London, England: Bloomsbury USA. pp. 74–77. ISBN978-1-6204-0807-0 – via Google Books.
^Green, George N. "Governors of Texas: 20. W. Lee O'Daniel". The Texas Politics Project. Austin, TX: University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
^Sorin, Hillary (August 4, 2010), "Today in Texas History: Gov. Pappy O'Daniel resigns", The Houston Chronicle, retrieved August 2, 2011, Many cultural and political historians think the character Gov. Menelaus "Pappy" O'Daniel of Mississippi is based on the notorious Texas politician, Wilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel.
^Flensted-Jensen, Pernille (2002), "Something old, something new, something borrowed: the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou", Classica Et Mediaevalia: Revue Danoise De Philologie, 53: 13–30, ISBN978-8772898537. Flensted-Jensen elaborates on the connection between the fictional and the real Pappy O'Daniel on pp. 27–28.
External linksedit
W. Lee O'Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys sing Chinatown My Chinatown. Dallas 1935 on YouTube
Alan Jackson tribute to W. Lee O'Daniel and the Light Crust Dough Boys on YouTube
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Pappy O Daniel redirects here For the fictional character of the same name see O Brother Where Art Thou Not to be confused with William L O Daniel Wilbert Lee Pappy O Daniel March 11 1890 May 11 1969 was an American Democratic Party politician from Texas who came to prominence by hosting a popular radio program Known for his populist appeal and support of Texas s business community O Daniel served as the 34th governor of Texas 1939 1941 and later its junior United States senator 1941 1949 O Daniel chose not to run for reelection to the Senate in 1948 and was succeeded by future U S president Lyndon B Johnson W Lee O DanielO Daniel c 1938United States Senatorfrom TexasIn office August 4 1941 January 3 1949Preceded byAndrew Jackson HoustonSucceeded byLyndon B Johnson34th Governor of TexasIn office January 17 1939 August 4 1941LieutenantCoke R StevensonPreceded byJames V AllredSucceeded byCoke R StevensonPersonal detailsBornWilbert Lee O Daniel 1890 03 11 March 11 1890Malta Ohio U S DiedMay 11 1969 1969 05 11 aged 79 Dallas Texas U S Resting placeSparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery Dallas TexasPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseMerle Estella ButcherProfessionMusician politicianO Daniel was also a songwriter who composed Beautiful Texas 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Radio fame 3 Political career 3 1 Governor 3 2 U S Senate 4 Later career 5 Death and burial 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editO Daniel was born in Malta Ohio His father was killed in an accident while O Daniel was a boy and his mother remarried The family moved to a cattle ranch near Arlington Kansas O Daniel attended local schools and graduated from the two year program at Salt City Business College in Hutchinson Kansas In 1909 he relocated to Anthony Kansas to become a stenographer and bookkeeper for a flour milling company After time with companies in Kansas City Missouri and New Orleans in 1925 he began to work for the Burrus Mill flour company in Fort Worth Radio fame editIn the late 1920s O Daniel assumed responsibility for the Burrus company s radio advertising To that end he wrote songs sang and hired a group of musicians to form an old timey band to back his vocals Originally called the Light Crust Doughboys notable musicians such as Bob Wills got their start with O Daniel After the Doughboys split up O Daniel formed the Western swing band Pat O Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys The new group was named after O Daniel s own Hillbilly Flour Company O Daniel also hosted a regular noontime radio show heard statewide which gave him his nickname after a catchphrase used frequently on air pass the biscuits Pappy and propelled him into the public spotlight By the mid 1930s Pappy O Daniel was a household name in Texas As a national magazine reporter wrote at the time At twelve thirty sharp each day a fifteen minute silence reigned in the state of Texas broken only by mountain music and the dulcet voice of W Lee O Daniel The show extolled the values of Hillbilly brand flour the Ten Commandments and the Bible 2 3 4 5 Political career editGovernor edit In 1938 he ran for governor of Texas as a Democrat O Daniel s campaign hailed his flour and the need for pensions and tax cuts He promised to block a sales tax and raise pensions O Daniel won the Democratic primary election with 51 percent of the ballots over twelve opponents In office he seemingly went against his campaign promise by proposing a new transaction tax which was voted down by the Texas Legislature Despite this position change he remained personally popular and handily won re election in 1940 In both elections his main competition came from Texas Railroad Commissioner Ernest O Thompson the former mayor of Amarillo U S Senate edit In 1941 O Daniel ran for the United States Senate in a special election He defeated Lyndon Johnson by 1 311 votes in one of the most controversial elections in state history 6 As a result of this experience in the 1948 election Johnson prepared for a close runoff by arranging for his supporters who controlled votes including George Parr to withhold their final tallies until the statewide results were announced 7 As a senator O Daniel was ineffective and most of his legislation was defeated 8 He endorsed the anti Roosevelt Texas Regulars in the 1944 presidential election Elected to a full term in 1942 O Daniel refused to run for another term in 1948 Later career editAfter leaving the Senate O Daniel bought a ranch near Fort Worth He invested in real estate in Dallas and was also active in the insurance business O Daniel ran for governor in 1956 and 1958 and claimed that the Brown v Board of Education decision was part of a Communist conspiracy He finished third in the Democratic primaries both times Death and burial editO Daniel died in Dallas on May 11 1969 He was buried at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas In popular culture editThe 2000 Coen Brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou featured a character played by Charles Durning and named Governor Pappy O Daniel loosely based on the real O Daniel though set in Mississippi 9 10 References edit Beautiful Texas by Pappy O Daniel Tsl state tx us Retrieved October 12 2018 Green George N June 15 2010 O Daniel Wilbert Lee Pappy Tshaonline org Retrieved October 12 2018 Malone Bill C 2002 The Cowboy Image and the Growth of Western Music Country Music U S A Second Revised Edition University of Texas Press p 151 ISBN 978 0 292 75262 7 Crawford Bill 2004 Please Pass the Biscuits Pappy Pictures of Governor W Lee Pappy O Daniel John Anderson University of Texas Press ISBN 978 0 292 70575 3 Woods Randall Bennett 2007 Pappy LBJ Architect of American Ambition Harvard University Press p 148 ISBN 978 0 674 02699 5 Caro Robert A 1982 The years of Lyndon Johnson the Path to Power Penguin Random House Mellen Joan 2016 Faustian Bargains Lyndon Johnson and Mac Wallace in the Robber Baron Culture of Texas London England Bloomsbury USA pp 74 77 ISBN 978 1 6204 0807 0 via Google Books Green George N Governors of Texas 20 W Lee O Daniel The Texas Politics Project Austin TX University of Texas at Austin Retrieved March 30 2022 Sorin Hillary August 4 2010 Today in Texas History Gov Pappy O Daniel resigns The Houston Chronicle retrieved August 2 2011 Many cultural and political historians think the character Gov Menelaus Pappy O Daniel of Mississippi is based on the notorious Texas politician Wilbert Lee Pappy O Daniel Flensted Jensen Pernille 2002 Something old something new something borrowed the Odyssey and O Brother Where Art Thou Classica Et Mediaevalia Revue Danoise De Philologie 53 13 30 ISBN 978 8772898537 Flensted Jensen elaborates on the connection between the fictional and the real Pappy O Daniel on pp 27 28 External links editW Lee O Daniel and his Hillbilly Boys sing Chinatown My Chinatown Dallas 1935 on YouTube Alan Jackson tribute to W Lee O Daniel and the Light Crust Dough Boys on YouTube W Lee O Daniel from the Handbook of Texas Online Photos of W Lee O Daniel hosted by the Portal to Texas History Congressional Biographical Directory Light Crust Doughboys from the Handbook of Texas Online Excerpt from Please Pass the Biscuits Pappy Pictures of Governor W Lee Pappy O Daniel ISBN 978 0 292 70575 3Party political officesPreceded byJames V Allred Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas1938 1940 Succeeded byCoke R StevensonPreceded byMorris Sheppard Democratic nominee for U S Senator from Texas Class 2 1941 1942 Succeeded byLyndon B JohnsonPolitical officesPreceded byJames V Allred Governor of TexasJanuary 17 1939 August 4 1941 Succeeded byCoke R StevensonU S SenatePreceded byAndrew J Houston U S Senator Class 2 from Texas1941 1949 Succeeded byLyndon B Johnson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title W Lee O 27Daniel amp oldid 1191158055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
