Texas Office of the Lieutenant Governor:

An Inventory of the Records of William Pettus Hobby, Jr. at the Texas State Archives, 1917, 1924, 1931, 1947, 1953-1990, undated (bulk 1968-1990)

Biographical Sketch

William (Bill) Pettus Hobby, Jr., served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas for eighteen years, from 1973 to 1991, longer than any previous holder of that office. Bill Hobby was born on January 19, 1932 in Houston, the son of former Texas Governor William P. Hobby, Sr. and Oveta Culp Hobby, commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps in World War II and later first Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. He graduated with a history degree from Rice University in 1953 and then served three years (1954-1957) as an intelligence officer in the Navy. Subsequently, he began his private career in publishing and broadcasting on the staff of his father's newspaper, the Houston Post, assuming increasing managerial responsibilities and becoming executive editor and president in 1965.

Bill Hobby began his public career in 1959, serving as parliamentarian of the Texas Senate under the guidance of Lieutenant Governor Ben Ramsey. A few years later President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him to the Presidential Task Force on Suburban Problems and to the National Citizens Advisory Committee on Vocational Rehabilitation. In 1965, Governor John Connally appointed Hobby to a term as a regent for the University of Houston. In 1969, Governor Preston Smith appointed him to the Texas Air Control Board and to the chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Welfare Reform, to conduct a review of the state's welfare system.

In his first attempt for an elected office, Hobby sought the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor in Texas in 1972. He won the primary election in a run-off and was elected to the office in the November general election. After the Texas Constitution was changed to lengthen the term of office from two to four years, Hobby won re-election in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986. The 1972 primary run-off turned out to be the stiffest challenge of Hobby's political career. After 1972, Hobby never faced any serious opposition in subsequent Democratic primaries and was able to easily defeat his Republican challenger in the 1974 and 1978 elections. The Republican party gained strength in Texas in the late 1970s and 1980s, but Hobby won reelection in 1982 and 1986. In 1987, Hobby announced he would not seek reelection or other public office after his term expired in 1991.

As Lieutenant Governor, Hobby performed gubernatorial duties in the Governor's absence, presided over the Texas Senate, and also served in the following leadership positions of state government: chair of the Governor's Energy Advisory Council (GEAC) (1973-1977), the Texas Energy Advisory Council (TEAC) (1977-1979), the special advisory committee which recommended the Texas Sunset Act (1970s), and the Joint Advisory Committee on Educational Services to the Deaf (1976-1979); co-chair of the Texas Energy and Natural Resource Advisory Council (TENRAC) (1979-1983); vice-chair of the Criminal Justice Policy Council; ex officio member of the Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations; and member of the Select Committee on Public Education (1983-1984). He was also chair of the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors (1974).

Over his years as Lieutenant Governor, Hobby gained a reputation as an astute fiscal manager and parliamentary leader in the Texas Senate. Some of the highlights of Hobby's years as Lieutenant Governor included reforms in the appropriations process such as zero-based budgeting, which required agencies to justify their budgets regardless of previous budget levels, and a requirement that the fiscal impact of bills be determined and reported to the Legislature in advance of passage. Also passed during his tenure were the indigent health care plan, the Texas water plan, and the school finance bill of 1984 that redistributed state funds among the state's school districts, required teacher testing, and created the controversial "no-pass-no-play" rule.

Hobby returned to Houston in 1991 to continue his journalistic and business career. He is chairman of the board of H and C Communications, Inc. which owns a radio station and six television stations. He is married to Diana P. Stallings and they are the parents of four children.

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Agency History

The office of lieutenant governor is powerful and influential in Texas state government. The Texas Constitution (Article IV, sections 1 and 16) gives the lieutenant governor power to act as governor in the event of the governor's absence from the state, or his/her death, resignation, impeachment, or inability or refusal to serve. The Constitution has also designated the lieutenant governor to serve as president of the Texas Senate. The current Rules of the Senate give the lieutenant governor authority to appoint all senate committees and their chairs, to decide all questions of order, to supervise all senate employees, and to determine the order of senate business. Texas statutes have made the lieutenant governor chairman of the Legislative Budget Board (which drafts the state budget) and the Texas Legislative Council (which is the legislature's main source for drafting bills); chair or vice-chair of the Legislative Audit Board (which appoints the state auditor) and the Legislative Education Board (which oversees state education policy); and member of the Legislative Redistricting Board (which redistricts house and senate seats after each decennial census).

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Scope and Contents of the Records

These records reflect the activities of William Pettus Hobby, Jr., primarily in his role as Lieutenant Governor. Types of materials found in these files include correspondence, reports, petitions, photographs, clippings, press releases, speeches, subject files from over a dozen persons on Lieutenant Governor Hobby's staff, budget records, legislative files, magazine articles, pamphlets and other printed materials, interviews, invitations, schedules of functions attended, announcements, mail summaries, calendars, and campaign materials. Dates covered are 1917, 1924, 1931, 1947, 1953-1990 and undated, the bulk dating 1968-1990. Also present are files of three Energy Advisory Councils and files of the Joint Advisory Committee on Educational Services to the Deaf, which Lieutenant Governor Hobby chaired.

Campaign files are present for Hobby's 1972, 1974, 1982 and 1986 elections for Texas Lieutenant Governor and include correspondence, campaign staff memos, lists of contributors and supporters, speeches, press releases, invitations, voter surveys, reports, brochures, magazine advertising, television and radio scripts, campaign memorabilia (leaflets, buttons, bumper stickers), clippings, maps, photographs, 35mm color transparencies, audio cassettes, open-reel videotapes, video cassettes, 5¼ inch floppy computer diskettes, and a reel-to-reel magnetic tape.

Topics covered include pending legislation, Senate committee appointments, action on advisory committees Hobby served on, budget issues, elections, etc. There are also requests from constituents asking for help with various problems, for job assistance, for specific items such as flags or honorary memberships, and for information on a variety of topics; and invitations for Hobby to attend inauguration events or social functions.

Correspondents include senators, representatives, other state officials, staff at state agencies, government officials in other states, constituents, campaign contributors, media, and others.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals records covered by exceptions to the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an Open Records Opinion from the Attorney General before the files can be provided to the researcher. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten business days after receiving the written request to make this determination.

There may be income tax records in the series Photographs and personal files. Certain federal tax information is confidential under 26 U.S. Code, section 6103 (a), (b), 7123.

Restrictions on Use

Please note that these records are stored at the State Records Center. Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Texas Public Information Act exceptions or U.S. Freedom of Information Act exceptions, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. Records requested before 10:00 a.m. will usually be available for review by an archivist by 4:00 p.m. the same day. Records requested after 10:00 a.m. and before 3:00 p.m will usually be available for review by an archivist by noon the next day. See the "Restrictions on Access" statement in this document for further information.

Researchers are required to wear gloves when viewing archival photographic materials.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records of William Pettus Hobby, Jr., Texas Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1991/61, 1991/068, 1991/114, 1993/160

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Office of the Lieutentant Governor on January 18, 1991; and the Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby on May 6, 1993.

Processing Information

Paul Beck, December 1991, May 1993

Laura K. Saegert and Tony Black, February 1992

Laura K. Saegert, March 2002

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Detailed Description of the Records