William Pettus Hobby (March 26, 1878 – June 7, 1964) was known as the publisher/owner of the Beaumont Enterprise when he entered politics and the Democratic Party. Elected in 1914 as Lieutenant Governor of Texas, in 1917 he succeeded to become 27th Governor of the U.S. state of Texas, after James Edward "Pa" Ferguson was impeached and forced to resign. In 1918, Hobby won the office in his own right, serving a full term.
In 1924, Hobby lost the Democratic primary to Miriam A. Ferguson, wife of "Pa" Ferguson and she was elected to the governorship. Hobby returned to publishing, and in 1924 was chosen as president of the Houston Post. He later served as chairman of the board of the Houston Post Company, which had also acquired radio and TV stations.
Born in 1878 in Moscow, Texas, Hobby attended local public schools.
He started working at the age of 17 as a circulation clerk for the Houston Post in 1895. Several years later, he was promoted to business writer in August 1901. In 1907, he left the Post to become manager and part owner of the Beaumont Enterprise. He acquired the entire paper shortly thereafter.
Political careeredit
Hobby decided to enter politics and joined the Democratic Party. In 1914, he ran for and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas. After Governor James Edward Ferguson, known as "Pa" Ferguson, was impeached and forced to resign from office in a corruption case in 1917, Hobby succeeded him at 39 and was then the youngest governor in state history. Ferguson was prohibited from serving in state electoral office again.
Campaign card for William Pettus Hobby
Hobby soundly defeated Ferguson in the 1918 Democratic primary and won the general election, governorship in his own right, and served a full term to 1921. During his years of service, the southern border of Texas was a place of frequent conflict, as revolutionaries from the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) entered the United States to attack farms, irrigation systems, and railroads. The Texas Rangers, militias, and US troops patrolled the border, and atrocities were committed by both sides.
In early 1919, a Joint Committee of the Texas Senate and House conducted hearings to investigate actions by the Texas Rangers along the border. They conducted hearings for two weeks and had 83 witnesses. Among the incidents recounted was the Porvenir Massacre of January 1918 in West Texas in which militia and Texas Rangers summarily killed 15 Mexican-American men and boys near their farming village. The legislature passed a bill to regulate the Rangers and to professionalize the service, and their numbers were reduced. Historians estimate that the Rangers killed up to 5,000 people, mostly ethnic Mexicans, from 1914 to 1919.[1]
Publisheredit
After leaving the governorship, Hobby returned to the Beaumont Enterprise. In 1924, he was invited to become the president of the Houston Post. In August 1955, Hobby became chairman of the board of the Houston Post Company. By then, the company also owned the radio station, KPRC, and the television station, KPRC-TV. His wife, Oveta Culp Hobby (see below), served as president and editor.
^"The 1919 Ranger Investigation". Texas State Library. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
^Andrews, Ruth Horn (1956). The First Thirty Years: a History of Texas Technological College. Lubbock, Texas: The Texas Tech Press. p. 353.
^Leatherwood, Art. "William P. Hobby Airport". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
Further readingedit
James Anthony Clark and Weldon Hart, The Tactful Texan: A Biography of Governor Will Hobby (New York: Random House, 1958).
Lewis L. Gould, Progressives and Prohibitionists: Texas Democrats in the Wilson Era (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1973; rpt., Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1992).
Initial messages of Governor W. P. Hobby to the thirty-sixth legislature, state of Texas: Jan. 14, 1919 and Jan. 22, 1919, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
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For his son the longtime Texas lieutenant governor see William P Hobby Jr William Pettus Hobby March 26 1878 June 7 1964 was known as the publisher owner of the Beaumont Enterprise when he entered politics and the Democratic Party Elected in 1914 as Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1917 he succeeded to become 27th Governor of the U S state of Texas after James Edward Pa Ferguson was impeached and forced to resign In 1918 Hobby won the office in his own right serving a full term William P Hobby27th Governor of TexasIn office August 25 1917 January 18 1921LieutenantVacantWillard Arnold JohnsonPreceded byJames E FergusonSucceeded byPat Morris Neff24th Lieutenant Governor of TexasIn office January 19 1915 August 25 1917GovernorJames E FergusonPreceded byWilliam Harding MayesSucceeded byWillard Arnold JohnsonPersonal detailsBornWilliam Pettus Hobby 1878 03 26 March 26 1878Moscow Texas U S DiedJune 7 1964 1964 06 07 aged 86 Houston Texas U S Political partyDemocraticSpousesWillie Cooper m 1915 died 1929 wbr Oveta Culp m 1931 wbr Children2 including William Jr In 1924 Hobby lost the Democratic primary to Miriam A Ferguson wife of Pa Ferguson and she was elected to the governorship Hobby returned to publishing and in 1924 was chosen as president of the Houston Post He later served as chairman of the board of the Houston Post Company which had also acquired radio and TV stations Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Publisher 4 Personal and civic life 5 Family 6 Legacy 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksEarly life editBorn in 1878 in Moscow Texas Hobby attended local public schools He started working at the age of 17 as a circulation clerk for the Houston Post in 1895 Several years later he was promoted to business writer in August 1901 In 1907 he left the Post to become manager and part owner of the Beaumont Enterprise He acquired the entire paper shortly thereafter Political career editHobby decided to enter politics and joined the Democratic Party In 1914 he ran for and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas After Governor James Edward Ferguson known as Pa Ferguson was impeached and forced to resign from office in a corruption case in 1917 Hobby succeeded him at 39 and was then the youngest governor in state history Ferguson was prohibited from serving in state electoral office again nbsp Campaign card for William Pettus HobbyHobby soundly defeated Ferguson in the 1918 Democratic primary and won the general election governorship in his own right and served a full term to 1921 During his years of service the southern border of Texas was a place of frequent conflict as revolutionaries from the Mexican Revolution 1910 1920 entered the United States to attack farms irrigation systems and railroads The Texas Rangers militias and US troops patrolled the border and atrocities were committed by both sides In early 1919 a Joint Committee of the Texas Senate and House conducted hearings to investigate actions by the Texas Rangers along the border They conducted hearings for two weeks and had 83 witnesses Among the incidents recounted was the Porvenir Massacre of January 1918 in West Texas in which militia and Texas Rangers summarily killed 15 Mexican American men and boys near their farming village The legislature passed a bill to regulate the Rangers and to professionalize the service and their numbers were reduced Historians estimate that the Rangers killed up to 5 000 people mostly ethnic Mexicans from 1914 to 1919 1 Publisher editAfter leaving the governorship Hobby returned to the Beaumont Enterprise In 1924 he was invited to become the president of the Houston Post In August 1955 Hobby became chairman of the board of the Houston Post Company By then the company also owned the radio station KPRC and the television station KPRC TV His wife Oveta Culp Hobby see below served as president and editor Personal and civic life editIn 1931 Hobby married Oveta Culp She later was appointed as the first Secretary of the US Department of Health Education and Welfare its name was changed after a later reorganization Hobby served as a member on the Board of Directors of Texas Technological College 2 Family editHis son William P Hobby Jr also served as lieutenant governor of Texas from 1973 to 1991 His daughter Jessica was married to Henry E Catto Jr who became the Ambassador of the United States to the Court of St James s His grandson Paul Hobby narrowly lost the election for comptroller of Texas in the 1998 general election Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn won that election Legacy editSeveral public facilities were named for him William P Hobby Airport 3 in Houston Texas Hobby Elementary School in Houston Texas Hobby Middle School in San Antonio Texas Hobby Center For The Performing Arts in Houston TXSee also edit nbsp Texas portal nbsp Biography portal nbsp Politics portalReferences edit The 1919 Ranger Investigation Texas State Library 25 April 2016 Retrieved 3 April 2019 Andrews Ruth Horn 1956 The First Thirty Years a History of Texas Technological College Lubbock Texas The Texas Tech Press p 353 Leatherwood Art William P Hobby Airport Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association Retrieved February 20 2013 Further reading editJames Anthony Clark and Weldon Hart The Tactful Texan A Biography of Governor Will Hobby New York Random House 1958 Lewis L Gould Progressives and Prohibitionists Texas Democrats in the Wilson Era Austin University of Texas Press 1973 rpt Austin Texas State Historical Association 1992 External links editWilliam Pettus Hobby from the Handbook of Texas Online Initial messages of Governor W P Hobby to the thirty sixth legislature state of Texas Jan 14 1919 and Jan 22 1919 hosted by the Portal to Texas HistoryParty political officesPreceded byJames E Ferguson Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas1918 Succeeded byPat Morris NeffPolitical officesPreceded byWilliam Harding Mayes Lieutenant Governor of TexasJanuary 19 1915 August 25 1917 Succeeded byWillard Arnold JohnsonPreceded byJames E Ferguson Governor of TexasAugust 25 1917 January 18 1921 Succeeded byPat Morris Neff Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William P Hobby amp oldid 1181693825, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
