Don Carleton
and Erin L. Purdy
During his five terms as lieutenant governor of Texas, Bill Hobby became one of the most powerful political figures in the state’s history. He was first elected to office in 1972 and served through 1990. Thanks to his brilliance as a legislative tactician and his personal integrity, Hobby was able to set the Senate’s agenda and garner respect from legislators on both sides of the aisle.
Series: Tower Books Imprint
Publisher: Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
Book Details: 480 pp, 7 x 10 inches, 57 b&w photos
ISBN: 978-1-953480-12-5
Publication Status: Forthcoming
In Bill Hobby: A Life in Journalism and Public Service, Don Carleton and Erin L. Purdy document Hobby’s significant contributions as a journalist, politician, and philanthropist. He was born into a prominent Texas family with a rich legacy of public service. His father was Houston newspaper publisher and former Texas governor William P. Hobby Sr., and his mother, Oveta Culp Hobby, led the Women’s Army Corps during World War II and served in President Eisenhower’s cabinet. After more than a decade as a journalist for the Houston Post, Hobby forged his own political path while also playing a prominent role in his family’s newspaper and television business.
Hobby was never shy about using his power to serve the people of Texas. Even after he left office, he continued to make a difference as a strong advocate for public education, including a term as chancellor of the University of Houston.
