William Pettus Hobby served as governor of Texas from August 25, 1917 to January 18, 1921. Hobby was born on March 26, 1878 at Moscow, Polk County, Texas. In 1892 his family moved to Houston. Later, Hobby quit high school to take a job with the circulation department of the Houston Post, and eventually was promoted to managing editor. In 1904 Hobby helped organize the Young Men's Democratic Club, and was its first president. He attended the 1904 Democratic state convention as chairman of the delegation for the Sixteenth Congressional District, and later became secretary of the State Democratic Executive Committee. In 1907 Hobby moved to Beaumont to become editor and proprietor of the Beaumont Enterprise . He was selected president of the Chamber of Commerce in February 1912.
Hobby was elected lieutenant governor in 1914 and re-elected in 1916. He became acting governor on August 25, 1917 and governor on September 25, 1917, when James Ferguson resigned. While filling Ferguson's term, Hobby agreed to the proposal allowing women to vote during the primary, and supported legislation banning alcohol sales within ten miles of military installations. Hobby was elected governor in 1918, and supported a generous appropriation for education, state assistance in obtaining home loans, and tax levies on oil and gas products. The Eighteenth Amendment regarding prohibition was passed by the legislature and approved by the voters while Hobby was in office. He married Willie Cooper of Beaumont on May 15, 1915 at New Orleans; she died in 1929. Hobby married Oveta Culp on February 23, 1931. Two children were born to this marriage: William Pettus Hobby, Jr., who was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1972, and Jesse Oveta. Hobby died on June 7, 1964 in Houston.
From the guide to the Records, 1915-1920, (bulk 1917-1920), (Texas State Archives)
