Texas. Governor (1911-1915 : Colquitt)

Oscar Branch Colquitt served as governor of Texas from January 17, 1911 to January 19, 1915. Colquitt was born on December 16, 1861 at Camilla, Georgia. With his family, he moved to Daingerfield, Texas in 1878. Colquitt owned and published several newspapers from 1884 to 1897. He served as state senator from 1895 to 1897 and authored delinquent tax laws. Colquitt acted as a paid lobbyist for several corporations during the sessions of 1899 and 1901. During this time he also practiced law, having been admitted to the bar in 1900. While serving as a railroad commissioner from 1903 to 1911, Colquitt lost a race for governor in 1906. In 1910 and 1912 he was elected and re-elected governor of Texas. Colquitt's administration was known for reform of the prison system, improvement in the physical plants and in the management of eleemosynary institutions, advancements in the education system, and a number of labor reform measures. Following his two terms as governor, Colquitt ran for the U.S. Senate and lost to the incumbent, Charles A. Culberson. Colquitt married Alice Fuller Murrell of Minden, Louisiana on December 9, 1885. They had four sons and one daughter. Colquitt died on March 8, 1940.