Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964

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William “Bill” P. Hobby served as lieutenant governor of Texas for 18 years (1973-1991). Born in Houston on January 19, 1932, he is the son of former Texas governor William Pettus Hobby, Sr. and Oveta Culp Hobby. He graduated from Rice University in 1953, served for several years in the United States Navy, and then joined the staff of the Houston Post, owned by the Hobby family. Hobby became executive editor and president of the newspaper company in 1965, and he remained president until the sale of the Post in 1983.

Hobby began his career in public service in 1959, serving as parliamentarian of the Texas Senate. Under President Lyndon B. Johnson, he served on the Presidential Task Force on Suburban Problems and the National Citizens Advisory Committee on Vocational Rehabilitation. In 1969, he was appointed to the Texas Air Control Board and the Senate Interim Committee on Welfare Reform. Hobby was elected lieutenant governor of Texas in 1972, and he won re-election in 1974, 1978, 1982, and 1986. During his tenure, he promoted policies to improve the state budget-making process, chaired the Hobby-Clayton Commission which recommended the Texas Sunset Act (1970s), and served on the Select Committee on Public Education (1983-1984). Following his terms as lieutenant governor, Hobby served as Chancellor for the University of Houston System (1995-1997); sat on several boards including Southwest Airlines; was a Trustee of the LBJ Foundation; and held the Sid Richardson chair in Public Affairs at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Hobby is married to Diana P. Stallings, and they have four children.

From the guide to the William P. Hobby, Jr. Papers 2009-129; 2009-248; 2010-167; 2011-076; 2012-074., 1940s-2010, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

William P. Hobby, Sr. (1878-1964), was an editor and publisher, in addition to serving as governor of Texas from 1917 to 1921.

He was editor and owner of the Houston Post, owner of the Beaumont Enterprise and lieutenant governor of Texas from 1914 to 1917. He was married to Oveta Culp Hobby, the first woman member of a U.S. president's cabinet; first Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (under Dwight D. Eisenhower); and first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps.

From the description of Hobby, William P., Sr., family papers, 1914-1997. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 39384428

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Wooldridge, Alexander Penn, 1847-1930. Wooldridge, A. P., papers, 1836-1965 University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Cohen, Henry, 1863-1952. Cohen, Henry, personal correspondence, 1850-1951. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Henry Cohen papers Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964. Hobby, William P., Sr., family papers, 1914-1997. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Ferguson, James Edward, 1871-1944. Ferguson, James Edward, collection, 1911-1936. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Pennybacker, Percy V., Mrs., 1861-1938. Pennybacker, Percy V. / Mrs., papers, 1878-1938. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn James Edward Ferguson Collection, 1911-1936 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of William Pettus Hobby, Jr., 1917, 1924, 1931, 1947, 1953-1990, undated, (bulk 1968-1990) University of Texas at Austin. General Libraries
referencedIn Castaneda, Christopher James, 1959-. "Builders : George R. and Herman Brown" book research files, 1898-1995. Rice University, Fondren Library
referencedIn Records, 1915-1920, (bulk 1917-1920) Texas State Archives
referencedIn Legislative Council inaugural planning documents and other material, 1955-2003 Texas State Archives
referencedIn Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau, Collection, 1963-1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Minnie Fisher Cunningham Papers Mss 0074., 1914-1944, 1914-1920 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Wooldridge, A. P. papers, 1836-1965 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Office and Personal Files, ca. 1901 - ca. 1960 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Preservation Board files, 1983-1991 University of Texas at Austin. General Libraries
referencedIn Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau, Collection, 1963-1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Crane, Martin McNulty, 1855-1943. Crane, Martin McNulty, papers, 1834-1973. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Calvin Wheat Collection MSS 64., 1915 - 1917 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Builders: Herman and George R. Brown Book Research Files Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn William P. Hobby, Sr. Family Papers 94-267; 97-273; 2008-291; 2011-176; 2011-294., 1914-1997, 2011 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Ed Kilman Collection MSS 0080., 1905-1989 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn William Pettus Hobby, Jr. scrapbook, 1989 University of Texas at Austin. General Libraries
creatorOf Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964. Hobby, William P., Sr., family papers, 1914-1997. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Biography -- Hobby, William, Jr. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Seals, Woodrow, 1917-1990. Judge Woodrow Seals Papers, 1941-1990 [Part 2] Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn William P. Hobby, Sr. Family Papers 94-267; 97-273; 2008-291; 2011-176; 2011-294., 1914-1997, 2011 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Seals, Woodrow, 1917-1990. Judge Woodrow Seals Papers, 1941-1990 [Part 1] Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Joint Committee to Investigate the Purchase of Blue Ridge Farm proceedings and testimony, 1919 Texas State Archives
referencedIn Peden, Edward Andrew. Peden (E. A.) Papers, 1917-1921 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Robert Watts Hudgens Papers, 1925-1973 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Jane Y. McCallum Papers AR. E. 004., 1815-1967., 1914-1953. Austin History Center , Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas, 78701.
referencedIn New York Times Company records. A.M. Rosenthal papers, 1955-1994, 1967-1986 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf William P. Hobby, Jr. Papers 2009-129; 2009-248; 2010-167; 2011-076; 2012-074., 1940s-2010 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Minnie Fisher Cunningham Papers Mss 0074., 1914-1944, 1914-1920 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Famous Names Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Truitt, James W., 1845-1922. Truitt, James W., Papers, 1806-1918 (bulk 1840-1887) University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Carter, Amon G., 1879-1955. Papers, 1923-1927. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker Papers, 1878-1938 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Peden (E. A. ) Papers 1953; 1955., 1917-1921 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Truitt, James W. Papers, 1806-1918 (bulk 1840-1887) Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn James A. Clark Papers MS 277., 1889-1974 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Carter, Amon G., 1879-1955. person
associatedWith Castaneda, Christopher James, 1959- person
associatedWith Clark, James Anthony, 1908-1978 person
associatedWith Cohen, Henry, 1863-1952 person
associatedWith Crane, Martin McNulty, 1855-1943. person
correspondedWith Cunningham, Minnie Fisher person
associatedWith Ferguson, James Edward, 1871-1944 person
associatedWith Hobby, Oveta Culp, 1905-1995 person
associatedWith Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964. person
associatedWith Hobby, William P., Jr. – Archives. person
associatedWith Hobby, William P., Sr. Family family
associatedWith Houston Post , Washington D.C. Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Hudgens, Robert Watts, 1896-1973 person
associatedWith McCallum, Jane Y. corporateBody
associatedWith Peden, Edward Andrew person
associatedWith Peden, Edward Andrew person
associatedWith Pennybacker, Percy V., Mrs., 1861-1938 person
associatedWith Rosenthal, A. M. (Abraham Michael), 1922-2006 person
associatedWith Seals, Woodrow Bradley person
associatedWith Seals, Woodrow Bradley person
associatedWith Texas. Governor (1917-1921 : Hobby) corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Legislature. Joint Committee to Investigate the Purchase of Blue Ridge Farm. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Legislature. Legislative Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Office of the Lieutenant Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith Truitt, James W., 1845-1922 person
associatedWith Wheat, Calvin person
associatedWith Wooldridge, Alexander Penn, 1847-1930 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Texas
Texas. Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Subject
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Governors
Lieutenant governors
Politicians
Politicians
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1878-03-26

Death 1964-06-07

English

Information

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