By Uher H.R. No. 493 74R9080 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The first native Texan to serve the state as 1-2 governor, James Stephen Hogg helped to write the legend of the Lone 1-3 Star State with his colorful life and vast achievements, which 1-4 continue to profoundly influence our state nearly a century after 1-5 his death; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The son of a prominent lawyer, farmer, and 1-7 politician, he was born to a life of privilege near the town of 1-8 Rusk in 1851; his family's fortune took a turn for the worse during 1-9 the Civil War, which claimed the life of his father, a Confederate 1-10 general; soon afterward, his mother passed away, leaving the Hogg 1-11 children in charge of the family plantation and struggling to make 1-12 ends meet; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Taking a job as a typesetter with a local newspaper 1-14 while still in his teens, James Stephen Hogg was soon running his 1-15 own newspapers and later served local citizens as a justice of the 1-16 peace in Quitman; it was during this period that he married Sallie 1-17 Stinson, with whom he enjoyed a rewarding partnership that produced 1-18 four children who, like their father, would leave a lasting and 1-19 beneficial imprint on Texas; and 1-20 WHEREAS, In his youth, he aided in the taming of the Texas 1-21 frontier by assisting local law enforcement and made a swift and 1-22 full recovery after being shot in the back by outlaws, displaying 1-23 the great tenacity, courage, and physical vigor that characterized 1-24 his remarkable life; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Throughout these early years, he diligently studied 2-2 the law, earning his license to practice in 1875, and within a few 2-3 years was elected the county attorney of Wood County; later, while 2-4 serving as district attorney, he gained a reputation as the most 2-5 aggressive prosecutor in the state, bolstering the appeal of the 2-6 Democratic Party and winning the admiration of area citizens, who 2-7 urged him to run for higher office; and 2-8 WHEREAS, This visionary statesman eventually heeded their 2-9 advice, winning election to the office of attorney general in 1886, 2-10 in which capacity he championed the rights of citizens over 2-11 unscrupulous businesses and trusts and wrested control of the East 2-12 Line Railroad from the rail baron Jay Gould, beginning a political 2-13 crusade against the era's powerful railroad corporations; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Promising to safeguard the public interest and to 2-15 bring the railroads under control, James Stephen Hogg was elected 2-16 governor of Texas in 1891, and, true to his word, he was 2-17 instrumental in the establishment of the Railroad Commission, the 2-18 direct predecessor of the proud agency that continues to serve 2-19 Texans today; and 2-20 WHEREAS, During his illustrious tenure, Governor Hogg 2-21 successfully promoted many pieces of major legislation that would 2-22 benefit generations of Texans and, as a proud native son, supported 2-23 The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems and 2-24 secured vital funding for the division of state archives to fulfill 2-25 its worthy mission of preserving Texas' bold history; and 2-26 WHEREAS, Returning to private life and the practice of law in 2-27 1896, Governor Hogg continued to maintain a fervent interest in 3-1 politics and, through wise investments, also was able to restore 3-2 his family to its former prosperity; today visitors to picturesque 3-3 Brazoria County can tour his graceful plantation home at the 3-4 Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Park, which is located near 3-5 the town of West Columbia; and 3-6 WHEREAS, Governor James Stephen Hogg helped to shape the 3-7 noble destiny of the Lone Star State to the lasting benefit of all 3-8 Texans, and it is indeed a great pleasure for the members of this 3-9 chamber to join with our fellow citizens at this time in saluting 3-10 this brilliant native son; now, therefore, be it 3-11 RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives hereby 3-12 recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of Texas Governor James 3-13 Stephen Hogg and his rich contributions to the development of our 3-14 state as we commemorate his 144th birthday; and, be it further 3-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-16 prepared for prominent display at the Varner-Hogg Plantation State 3-17 Historic Park in Brazoria County.