Texas Almanac, 1966-1967 Page: 72
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TEXAS ALMANAC-1966-1967
The first of two amendments repealing liquor prohibi-
tion was adopted during Mrs. Ferguson's administra-
tion, permitting sales of 3.2 per cent alcohol beer and
wines. Full repeal was provided by another amend-
ment during the next administration.
Mrs. Eerguson did not seek re-election, thus clos-
ing a 20-year chapter in Texas politics, during which
"a'ergusonism" was an almost constant issue. Mrs.
Ferguson re-entered politics in 1940 but was fourth
among eight candidates. The two Governor Fergu-
sons, husband and wife, participated in 12 primary
and four general elections ror toe governorship and
one race by Gov. J. E. Ferguson for United States
Senate.
James V. Allred (Jan. 15, 1935-Jan. 15, 1939), in
the election of 1934 led a field of six opponents in the
first primary and defeated Tom F. Hunter of Wichita
Falls in the second primary by 497,808 to 457,785. His
administration sought to restore economic prosperity,
and remedy evils believed responsible for the depres-
sion. During his first administration the old-age pen-
sion amendment to the Constitution was adopted. It
was followed by other social security efforts, including
amendment providing for a retirement fund for school
and college teachers and employes. Other important
amendments to the Constitution under the Allred ad-
ministration were those reorganizing the old Board
of Pardons into the Board of Pardons and Paroles,
instituting workmen's compensation for state em-
ployes and raising the salaries of Governor, Secre-
tary of State, Attorney General, Comptroller of Pub-
lic Accounts, Treasurer and Commissioner of the Gen-
eral Land Office. Raising the salary of the Governor
from $4,000 to $12,000 a year ended a long-time po-
litical issue.
Allred won in the 1936 primaries over Tom F.
Hunter, F. W. Fischer and two other candidates in
the first primary. Near the close of his second term
he was appointed judge of the South Texas Federal
District Court but served out the remainder of his
term.
Gov. W. Lee O'Daniel (Jan. 15, 1939-Aug. 4, 1941)
won the Democratic primary of 1938 in one of the
biggest upsets in Texas political history. On a plat-
form of the Decalogue and the Golden Rule, indus-
trialization of Texas and promising old-age pensions
and the end of political rule at the State Capitol, the
Fort Worth flour salesman with his "hillbilly band"
on radio won 573,166 votes out of a record 1,114.885
cast in the first primary. Among his twelve oppo-
nents were such well-known political figures as Atty.
Gen. William McCraw, Railroad Commissioner Er-
nest 0. Thompson, former Assistant Postmaster Gen-
eral Karl A. Crowley and Tom F. Hunter, who had
been barely beaten in two previous races for Gov-
ernor.
Governor O'Daniel's first term is remembered
primarily for the long legislative controversy over
taxation to provide old-age pensions and other social
security funds. The general revenue fund accumulat-
ed further deficit during the first O'Daniel term.
Governor O'Daniel won again in 1940. but won a
special election, June 28, 1941, to fill a United States
Senate place vacated by the death of Sen. Morris
Sheppard.
Gov. Coke Stevenson (Aug. 4, 1941-Jan. 21, 1947),
Lieutenant Governor, succeeded O'Daniel, Governor
Stevenson was elected to a full term in 1942 and
again in 1944, serving during World War II.
One of the principal achievements of Governor
Stevenson's administration was the elimination of the
deficit in the state's general fund. This was accom-
plished without the issuance of state bonds that had
been authorized by constitutional amendment.
Bonds were authorized in conjunction with an
amendment putting the state on a pay-as-you-go basis
by requiring the State Comptroller of Public Accounts
to disapprove appropriation bills when they exceeded
prospective state revenues to pay them.
Texas in World War II
No other state had a wider range of military
activity than Texas in World War II. An estimated
1,250,000 men in all branches of the service trained
in this state. More than 20 combat army divisions
trained in Texas. There were 15 posts and camps for
the U.S. Army and 21 prisoner-of-war camps. In ad-
dition, headquarters of the Eighth Service Command
operating agency in the Southwest for Army Service
orces) covering Texas. Oklahoma, Arkansas. Lou-
isiana and New Mexico was in Dallas. Headquarters
for the Fourth Army of men in nine states was at
Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio. From 1932 to 1944.
the Third Army, training men from Arizona to Flori-
da. was headquartered at Fort Sam Houston. The
Third left San Antonio Feb. 15, 1944, and was suc-
ceeded by the Fourth.National headquarters of the wartime Army Air
Force Training Command was in Fort Worth.
Navy installations were not as numerous. The
Naval Air Tranig Base at Corpus Christi was the
world's largest naval air-training activity.
Achievement, Casualties
An estimated 750,000 Texans served in World War
II. More than 30 Texans in the Army received the
Congressional Medal of Honor. Six Texans in the
Navy received the highest award, the Medal of Hon-
or. An additional 92 Texans had received the Navy
Cross for World War II heroism.
Fighting outfits with many Texans and usually
called "Texas outfits" were: 36th Division, 112th Cav-
airy Division, 2d Infantry Division, 103d Infantry Reg-
iment. 1st Cavalry Division and 90th Infantry Divi-
sion.
Either born in Texas or a resident of Texas for a
considerable time were 155 Army generals. These in-
clude Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, native of Denison,
Texas, who was Supreme Allied Commander in
Europe, then Chief of Staff, and later President. In-
cluded also is Gen. Walter Krueger, commanding gen-
eral of the Sixth Army, from San Antonio. Twelve
admirals in the Navy were from Texas, including
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz of Fredericksburg, com-
mander in chief of the Pacific Fleet. Director of the
Women's Army Corps was Col. Oveta Culp Hobby of
Houston, first woman ever to wear an Army uniform
as a member of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps,
later to become the nation's first Secretary of the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare. More
than 8.000 Texans were in the WAC.
According to figures furnished by the War Depart-
ment. Texas soldiers suffered 15,764 fatalities out of
the estimated 542,000 serving in the World War II
Army. The 15.764 deaths comprised 4.72 per cent in
the Army's total number of dead and missing. Of the
15. 764 dead, 8,403 were killed in action, 1,166 died of
wounds, 48 died of injuries, 4,935 were nonbattle
deaths. 1.134 were adjudged dead on the findings of a
board after missing for long periods.
Texas casualties in the United States Navy, in-
cluding Coast Guard and Marines, totaled 7,258, ac-
cording to an announcement in August, 1946. Of the
7,258, a total of 3,023 died in combat and 84 died in
prison camp; 3,884 were wounded and 267 were re-
leased prisoners.
Postwar Progress
Gov. Beauford H. Jester (Jan. 21, 1947-July 11,
1949) won a heated race centered on the manage-
ment of the University of Texas. Dr. Homer P.
Rainey, president of the university, had become in-
volved with the Board of Regents, charging them
with limiting academic freedom and mismanage-
ment. When he was ousted Nov. 1, 1944, he carried
his case to the people by running for Governor in the
Democratic primaries of 1946. In the runoff primary
Jester defeated Rainey, 701,018 to 355,654.
During Governor Jester's first administration a
number of important amendments to the Constitution
were adopted, notably one abolishing the state ad
valorem tax for general revenue purposes, and one
reducing the Confederate pension tax from 7c to 2c
and levying a 5c tax for the state colleges. On
April 16. 1947, the explosion at Texas City of the
French SS Grandcamp, loaded with chemicals, caused
4,000 injuries, with 398 identified dead, 63 unidenti-
fied, included among 178 persons reported missing.
Property damage exceeded $67,000,000.
Governor Jester was re-elected in 1948. Most not-
able race was between former Gov. Coke R. Steven-
son and U.S. Representative Lyndon B. Johnson for
U.S. Senator. Stevenson led in the first primary but
the count in the second primary gave Johnson an 87-
vote lead. the closest major race in Texas political
history. The Fifty-first Legislature set a landmark in
Texas educational history by enacting the Gilmer-
Aikin law, reorganizing the public-school system.
The regular session of the Fifty-first Legislature
was the longest in Texas history. It began Jan. 11,
1948, and adjourned July 6, a period of 177 days.
Counting both regular and special called sessions, the
Fifty-seventh Legislature holds the record for length
of time in session. meeting a total of 205 days in
1961-62. An amendment was passed in 1960 by the
56th Legislature limiting regular sessions of Legisla-
ture to a maximum of 140 days.
Following the sudden death of Governor Jester,
July 11. 1949. Lt. Gov. Allan Shivers became the
chief executive.
Gov. Shivers (July 11, 1949-Jan. 15. 1957), served
out the unexpired term and won the 1950 Democratic
primary over six other candidates, receiving 829,730
votes out of 1,086,564.
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Texas Almanac, 1966-1967, book, 1965; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113808/m1/74/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.