William P. Hobby Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William P. Hobby Jr.
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| 37th Lieutenant Governor of Texas | |
| In office January 16, 1973 – January 15, 1991 |
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| Governor | Dolph Briscoe Bill Clements Mark White Bill Clements |
| Preceded by | Ben Barnes |
| Succeeded by | Bob Bullock |
| 5th Chancellor of the University of Houston System | |
| In office 1995–1997 |
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| Preceded by | Alexander F. Schilt |
| Succeeded by | Arthur K. Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Pettus Hobby Jr.
January 19, 1932 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Diana Poteat Stallings
(died 2014) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
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| Residences | Houston, Texas |
| Alma mater | Rice University (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1953–1957 |
| Rank | Lieutenant (JG) |
William Pettus Hobby Jr. (born January 19, 1932) is an American politician. He served a record eighteen years as the 37th lieutenant governor of Texas, from 1973 to 1991. He was the last lieutenant governor to serve a two-year term. He was also the first elected to a four-year term. This happened when the Texas Constitution was changed to make terms longer for statewide elected officials. The four-year terms began with the 1974 elections.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
William P. Hobby Jr. was born in Houston, Texas. He was the only son of William P. Hobby Sr. and Oveta Culp Hobby. His family had a strong history in public service.
A Family of Leaders
Both of his grandfathers were part of the Texas Legislature. His father, William P. Hobby Sr., was also a lieutenant governor of Texas. He later became the governor from 1917 to 1921.
His mother, Oveta Culp Hobby, was a very important person too. She was the first person to be appointed to a new job called the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose her for this role. She served from 1953 to 1955. Today, this job is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Education and Military Service
William P. Hobby Jr. went to high school at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C.. After that, he attended Rice University in Houston. He graduated in 1953 with a degree in arts.
After college, he joined the United States Navy. He served for four years in naval intelligence, which means he worked with important information for the Navy.
Working at the Houston Post
For many years, the Hobby family owned a newspaper called the Houston Post. William P. Hobby Jr. worked there, learning about the newspaper business from the ground up. He started in the editorial department.
In 1963, his father became ill. William P. Hobby Jr. then took over running the newspaper. He was the president of the Post for twenty years. The family sold the newspaper in 1983. The Houston Post later closed and was joined with the Houston Chronicle in 1995.
Political Career
William P. Hobby Jr.'s long career in government began in 1959. He worked as a parliamentarian for the Texas Senate. This means he helped make sure meetings followed the rules.
Early Government Roles
He was chosen for special groups by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. These groups included the Presidential Task Force on Suburban Problems and the National Citizens Advisory Committee on Vocational Rehabilitation.
Governor Preston Smith appointed him to the Texas Air Control Board. This board worked on air quality. Later, Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes made him the head of a committee looking into welfare reform in 1969. Hobby left the Texas Air Control Board in 1971 to run for lieutenant governor.
Serving as Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Hobby was elected lieutenant governor in November 1972. He won with a very large number of votes. The job became open when the person holding it before, Ben Barnes, decided to run for governor instead.
Re-election Successes
Hobby was re-elected many times. In 1974, the term for lieutenant governor was changed from two years to four years. He won again in 1978, 1982, and 1986. He did not run for a sixth term in 1990. The job then went to another Democrat, Bob Bullock.
Important Leadership Roles
Besides leading the state senate, Hobby had many other important roles. He led the Governor's Energy Advisory Council and the Texas Energy Advisory Council. He also helped create the Texas Sunset Act, which helps review state agencies.
He worked on committees for educational services for the deaf and for criminal justice policy. In 1985, he worked with Helen J. Farabee to help create the Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation (MHMR). This department helps people with mental health needs.
Key Achievements in Office
During his time as Lieutenant Governor, Hobby was known for being good with money and leading the Texas Senate. Some of his important achievements included:
- Budget Reforms: He helped create "zero-based budgeting." This meant government agencies had to explain why they needed money each year, not just get the same amount as before.
- Financial Impact Reports: He made sure that the cost of new laws was known before they were passed.
- Health and Water Plans: Important plans for health care for those who couldn't afford it and for Texas's water supply were passed.
- School Finance Bill of 1984: This bill changed how state money was shared among schools. It also required teachers to be tested and created the "no-pass-no-play" rule for student athletes.
In 1979, after a visit by Deng Xiaoping from China to the United States, Hobby traveled to China. He signed a deal for China to sell oil to refineries in Houston.
After His Political Career
After leaving politics, William P. Hobby Jr. continued to be active.
University and Business Roles
He served as the Chancellor of the University of Houston System from 1995 to 1997. He also served on the boards of many companies, including Southwest Airlines, for seventeen years.
He was a Trustee for the LBJ Foundation. He also taught at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Rice University. He remained involved in community work as a commissioner for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Published Book
In 2010, he published a book called How Things Really Work: Lessons from a Life in Politics. This book was also made into an audiobook for people with blindness or other reading difficulties.
Personal Life
William P. Hobby Jr. was married to Diana Poteat Stallings. She passed away on July 4, 2014. They had four children: Laura Poteat Hobby Beckworth, Paul William Hobby, Andrew Purefoy Hobby, and Katherine Pettus Hobby Gibson.
Diana Hobby was an editor for a literature journal and also the book editor for The Houston Post. Both William and Diana Hobby were big supporters of the arts, literature, and especially libraries. Their son, Paul Hobby, also ran for a political office in 1998 but did not win.
Legacy and Honors
On May 5, 1989, the state senate honored William P. Hobby Jr. The William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Austin is named after him. This building is where the Texas Department of Insurance is located.
The Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston is named in honor of Hobby and his family. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is also named after them. The restaurant inside the Hobby Center, Diana American Grill, is named after his wife, Diana.
See also
In Spanish: William P. Hobby Jr. para niños
- Hobby–Eberly Telescope
