OVETA CULP HOBBY Jan. 19, 1905-Aug. 16, 1995

OCH, Covergirl

OCH, Covergirl

Governor Will Hobby (1878-1964)

William Pettus Hobby (1878-1964), editor, publisher, and governor of Texas, was born in Moscow, Texas, on March 26, 1878, the son of Eudora Adeline (Pettus) and Edwin E. Hobby. One of six children, Hobby moved in 1893 with his family from Livingston to Houston, where he entered Houston High School. He became city editor, then managing editor of the Post, and participated in the covering of some of the most spectacular stories of the time. In 1907 he left the Post to become manager and part owner of the Beaumont Enterprise, which he soon acquired. Hobby was elected lieutenant governor in 1914 and was reelected in 1916. He was married in 1915 to Willie Cooper, daughter of former United States Representative Samuel Bronson Cooper. She died in 1929. When Governor James Edward Ferguson was removed from office in 1917, Hobby became the twenty-sixth governor of Texas and the youngest man, at thirty-nine, to hold the office. Hobby served during an eventful period. In February 1931 Hobby married Oveta Culp of Killeen and Houston.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Our family has been in Texas politics for four generations--since 1861 when my great-uncle Marmaduke was elected to the House. Grandfather Culp and LBJ’s father, Sam Ealy Johnson served in the Texas House in the early 1920s. Both my grandfathers were legislators. My father was President of the Texas Senate, then Governor. I was President of the Senate for 18 years. His father and both his fathers-in-law and first brother-in-law were legislators. His first father-in-law, Bronson Cooper, also served in Congress. Mother was parliamentarian of the House for six sessions. (I was Senate parliamentarian in 1959.) Our son Paul Hobby was Lt. Governor Bullock’s chief of staff and now serves on the State’s Ethics Commission. Our daughter Laura’s father-in-law, Lindley Beckworth, was a legislator and Congressman.

Our family has been in Texas politics for four generations--since 1861 when my great-uncle Marmaduke was elected to the House. Grandfather Culp and LBJ’s father, Sam Ealy Johnson served in the Texas House in the early 1920s. Both my grandfathers were legislators. My father was President of the Texas Senate, then Governor. I was President of the Senate for 18 years. His father and both his fathers-in-law and first brother-in-law were legislators. His first father-in-law, Bronson Cooper, also served in Congress. Mother was parliamentarian of the House for six sessions. (I was Senate parliamentarian in 1959.) Our son Paul Hobby was Lt. Governor Bullock’s chief of staff and now serves on the State’s Ethics Commission. Our daughter Laura’s father-in-law, Lindley Beckworth, was a legislator and Congressman.

Four Generations Emma Hoover Culp, Oveta Culp Hobby,

Bill Hobby, Laura Poteat Hobby

OCH, PARLIAMENTARIAN

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Here is a portrait, by Seymour Stone in 1942, of Mother that has an interesting history. It belongs to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas in Austin. It hung for years in my conference room in the Capitol. Denise Davis worked in my office, then became Chief Justice Tom Phillips’ law clerk, then Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff’s general counsel, then parliamentarian of the Texas House, then Speaker Joe Straus’ chief of staff. Denise was just a little older than Mother was when she became parliamentarian. While she was working for Bill Ratliff she had the portrait in her office and took it with her to the House. Denise resigned as parliamentarian after Speaker Tom Craddick, against Denise’s advice, refused to recognize anybody for a motion to vacate the Chair and caused a near-riot in the House. Denise now has her own law firm in Austin and a copy of this portrait hangs there.  The portrait now hangs in the Killeen City Hall.

Here is a portrait, by Seymour Stone in 1942, of Mother that has an interesting history. It belongs to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas in Austin. It hung for years in my conference room in the Capitol. Denise Davis worked in my office, then became Chief Justice Tom Phillips’ law clerk, then Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff’s general counsel, then parliamentarian of the Texas House, then Speaker Joe Straus’ chief of staff. Denise was just a little older than Mother was when she became parliamentarian. While she was working for Bill Ratliff she had the portrait in her office and took it with her to the House. Denise resigned as parliamentarian after Speaker Tom Craddick, against Denise’s advice, refused to recognize anybody for a motion to vacate the Chair and caused a near-riot in the House. Denise now has her own law firm in Austin and a copy of this portrait hangs there. The portrait now hangs in the Killeen City Hall.

OCH & FDR

OCH at the Pyramids

First WAACs to be sent abroad.

IKE WATCHES OCH SWORN IN April 11, 1953

OCH, IKE, WPH

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Presentation to the San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. October 4, 2012. Bill Hobby