Beauford H. Jester
Encyclopedia
Beauford Halbert Jester (January 12, 1893 - July 11, 1949) was a U.S.
political figure, the son of George Taylor Jester
and his second wife, Frances Gordon Jester. He served as the 36th Governor of Texas
from 1947 until 1949, when he died of a heart attack
. He is the only Texas governor ever to have died in office.
primary in a run-off election in 1946 by defeating Homer Rainey
, who had been discharged by the regents as the president of the University of Texas at Austin
in 1944 in a dispute over academic freedom.
As governor Jester created the Board of Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools, the Texas Youth Development Council, and reformed the state prison system. He also increased funding for state hospitals and orphanages, enacted strong right-to-work law
s, and supported an anti-lynching law.
Jester was easily re-elected to a second term in 1948. He then helped implement the most extensive education reforms the state of the time through the 1949 Gilmer-Aiken Act, the first comprehensive system for Texas school funding.
Jester was born in Corsicana
, the seat of Navarro County in east Texas, attended the University of Texas at Austin
and was a member of the Kappa Sigma
fraternity. He later studied law
at Harvard
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. His studies were interrupted by the First World War
. In 1919, he resumed his law studies at the University of Texas, from which he received his LL.B a year later. He returned to Corsicana to practice law, and was president of the Navarro County Bar Association for many years. Jester also served as director of the state bar association from 1940-1941. Jester was elected to statewide office in 1942 as a member of the Texas Railroad Commission serving until 1947.
For many years, Jester was a member of the University of Texas Board of Regents
, and from 1933-1935 was the youngest man to ever serve as president of that body. In honor of his service, the Jester Center on the University of Texas campus
was named after him in 1968. This contains Jester Dormitory, the largest residential facility on campus, housing just under 3,000 students, as well as classroom and faculty space. Also, a Texas Department of Corrections complex of prisons, the Jester Prison Farm, was named after Jester—featured in the 1974 movie, The Sugarland Express
.
In 1964, Jester Park was dedicated by the City of Corsicana in memory of Beauford Jester. The 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) park is home to the Lefty Frizzell
Memorial and the Pioneer Village, which recreates the lives of the city's pioneers
with replicas of historic buildings.
Jester is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political figure, the son of George Taylor Jester
George Taylor Jester
George Taylor Jester served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas from 1895 to 1899. He was born in Macoupin County, Illinois to Levi and Diadema Jester...
and his second wife, Frances Gordon Jester. He served as the 36th Governor of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from 1947 until 1949, when he died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He is the only Texas governor ever to have died in office.
History
He won the governorship in the DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary in a run-off election in 1946 by defeating Homer Rainey
Homer Rainey
Homer Price Rainey was a U.S. college president and professor. He was born in Eliasville in Young County, Texas, and served as the president of the University of Texas at Austin from 1939 to 1944, when he was fired after a lengthy battle over academic freedom with the university regents...
, who had been discharged by the regents as the president of the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 1944 in a dispute over academic freedom.
As governor Jester created the Board of Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools, the Texas Youth Development Council, and reformed the state prison system. He also increased funding for state hospitals and orphanages, enacted strong right-to-work law
Right-to-work law
Right-to-work laws are statutes enforced in twenty-two U.S. states, mostly in the southern or western U.S., allowed under provisions of the federal Taft–Hartley Act, which prohibit agreements between labor unions and employers that make membership, payment of union dues, or fees a condition of...
s, and supported an anti-lynching law.
Jester was easily re-elected to a second term in 1948. He then helped implement the most extensive education reforms the state of the time through the 1949 Gilmer-Aiken Act, the first comprehensive system for Texas school funding.
Jester was born in Corsicana
Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
, the seat of Navarro County in east Texas, attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and was a member of the Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
fraternity. He later studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. His studies were interrupted by the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1919, he resumed his law studies at the University of Texas, from which he received his LL.B a year later. He returned to Corsicana to practice law, and was president of the Navarro County Bar Association for many years. Jester also served as director of the state bar association from 1940-1941. Jester was elected to statewide office in 1942 as a member of the Texas Railroad Commission serving until 1947.
For many years, Jester was a member of the University of Texas Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
, and from 1933-1935 was the youngest man to ever serve as president of that body. In honor of his service, the Jester Center on the University of Texas campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
was named after him in 1968. This contains Jester Dormitory, the largest residential facility on campus, housing just under 3,000 students, as well as classroom and faculty space. Also, a Texas Department of Corrections complex of prisons, the Jester Prison Farm, was named after Jester—featured in the 1974 movie, The Sugarland Express
The Sugarland Express
The Sugarland Express is a 1974 American drama film starring Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton, and Michael Sacks. It was directed by Steven Spielberg, his first film to be intended as a theatrical release .It is about a husband and wife trying to outrun the law and was based on a...
.
In 1964, Jester Park was dedicated by the City of Corsicana in memory of Beauford Jester. The 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) park is home to the Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
Memorial and the Pioneer Village, which recreates the lives of the city's pioneers
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
with replicas of historic buildings.
Jester is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.
Resources
- Entry for Beauford Jester from the Handbook of TexasHandbook of TexasThe Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
Online. - Photos of Beauford H. Jester, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Jester Park
- Beauford Jester on Find-A-Grave