(1878-1964) Businessman and politician William Pettus Hobby was born near this Moscow site, the son of Eudora Adeline (Pettus) and Edwin E. Hobby, a state senator and judge. At age 17, William joined the staff of the Houston Post and rose to managing editor at 23. He was named publisher of the Beaumont Enterprise in 1907. Texas voters elected William P. Hobby Lieutenant Governor in 1914 and 1916. He became Governor with the impeachment of James E. Ferguson in 1917. In 1918, Hobby was elected to his own full term (1919-1921). In 1924, he served on the first board of regents of Texas Technological College (Texas Tech). Hobby was also president of the Houston Post from 1924 until his death in 1964. In 1931, Hobby married Oveta Culp, parliamentarian of the Texas House and daughter of Elizabeth (Hoover) and former state representative Ike W. Culp. For the next quarter century, William and Oveta shared editorial administration of the Post, except four years during World War II when Oveta served as commander of the Women's Army Corps of the United States military forces, and from 1953 to 1955, when she served in the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower as the first Secretary of the Housing, Education and Welfare Department. William and Oveta had two children: William Pettus, Jr. and Jessica. Hobby's highlights as Governor included initiation of a free schoolbook program, compulsory school attendance law, state government budget system and state drought relief. His leadership was vital to Texas' participation in World War I and the effecting of woman's suffrage in the state and nation. (1964)
Hobby, William Pettus, Texas Statesman
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Hobby, William Pettus, Texas Statesman is a historical marker in Moscow, Polk County, dedicated in 1964. It is one of 49 historical markers documented in Polk County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 134 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 30.9212, -94.8266 near Moscow. The nearest cataloged historic site is Moscow (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include First Baptist Church, Meekins Family, and Moscow Cemetery.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5373010397. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
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