Texas. Governor (1947-1949 : Jester)

The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state, elected by the citizens every four years. The duties and responsibilities of the governor include serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces; convening special sessions of the legislature for specific purposes; delivering to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session a report on the condition of the state, an accounting of all public money under the governor's control, a recommended biennial budget, an estimate of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation, and any recommendations he deems necessary; signing or vetoing bills passed by the legislature; and executing the laws of the state. The governor can grant reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons, upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and revoke conditional pardons. He appoints numerous state officials (with the consent of the Senate), fills vacancies in state and district offices (except vacancies in the legislature), calls special elections to fill vacancies in the legislature, fills vacancies in the United States Senate until an election can be held, and serves as ex officio member of several state boards.

The office of governor was first established by the Constitution of 1845 and superseded the office of president of the Republic of Texas. The position now exists under authority of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of 1876 and Texas Government Code, Chapter 401. To be elected governor, a person must be at least thirty years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Texas for at least five years preceding the election. In 1972, the term of office was extended from two to four years, effective in 1975. Since 1856 the governor has had the use of the Governor's Mansion.

In 1947 the Office of the Governor had less than 30 full-time equivalent employees. The office was not formally organized into divisions or departments.

Beauford Halbert Jester was born at Corsicana, Texas on January 12, 1893, the son of Frances and George Taylor Jester.

Jester received his B.A. in 1916 from the University of Texas. He joined the U.S. Army, going through World War I officer training at Leon Springs. He emerged as a captain and served with the Ninetieth Division during World War I. After the war he attended Harvard Law School and the University of Texas Law School. He received his L.L.B. degree from the University of Texas in 1920 and went on to practice law in Corsicana.

In 1929 Jester was appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas, serving as the Chairman of the Board from 1933 to 1935. He was appointed to the Texas Railroad Commission in 1942 and was later elected to it, serving from 1942 to 1946.

Jester was elected Governor in 1946. A major contribution of his administration was the passage of the Gilmer-Aiken law, which reorganized the public schools. Other events include the passage of several constitutional amendments and Texas City Explosion of April 16, 1947, one of the state's worst tragedies. Governor Jester was elected to a second term and was the first Texas governor to die in office.

Beauford H. Jester married Mabel Buchanan on June 15, 1921. He died on July 11, 1949.

From the guide to the Records, 1946-1949, (Texas State Archives)