J. H. Walker
Encyclopedia
James Hemphill Walker was Texas Land Commissioner from 1929 - 1936. Due to his leadership, he kept thousands of Texas families from losing their homes during the Great Depression
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to Phillip and Elizabeth (Cooper) Walker. He studied the classics and languages in college and worked for a time as a teacher before joining the Texas General Land Office as a Spanish-language translator in 1899.
's Office from 1901 - 1903 and then served as a financial agent for the Texas Prison System until 1907. Walker returned to the General Land Office and served as Legal Examiner from 1907 - 1909. In 1909, James T. Robison appointed Walker as his Chief Clerk. Walker served in that post until Robison's death in 1929, when Governor Dan Moody
appointed him to succeed Robison as Commissioner. According to his official biography, "Walker and Robison had worked so closely for the preceding twenty years, Mr. Walker had little difficulty assuming the responsibilities or keeping course on directions set during the previous two decades."
Walker ran as a Democrat
and was elected as Commissioner in 1930 and re-elected in 1932 and 1934. The main functions of the office during Walker's tenure as Commissioner reflected the increased interest in managing oil and gas-producing lands, as well as the public lands of the land-grant colleges: (University of Texas and Texas A&M University
). During the Great Depression, he successfully persuaded the School Land Board not to evict lessees on their lands who were unemployed and could not make their payments. As a result of this, Walker is credited with keeping thousands of families from losing their homes.
In 1936, Walker announced that he would not seek reelection. From 1936 until his death in 1947, Walker served as Land Officer of the University of Texas.
Walker died on June 14, 1947 and was buried at the Texas State Cemetery
in Austin, Texas
.
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
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Early life
Walker was born in Johnson County, TexasJohnson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 126,811 people, 43,636 households, and 34,428 families residing in the county. The population density was 174 people per square mile . There were 46,269 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile...
to Phillip and Elizabeth (Cooper) Walker. He studied the classics and languages in college and worked for a time as a teacher before joining the Texas General Land Office as a Spanish-language translator in 1899.
Career in public service
Walker served as Chief Clerk of the State Comptroller of Public AccountTexas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is an executive branch position created by the Texas Constitution. As with nearly every other executive branch head, the Comptroller is popularly elected every four years concurrently with the Governor and the other elected executive branch positions...
's Office from 1901 - 1903 and then served as a financial agent for the Texas Prison System until 1907. Walker returned to the General Land Office and served as Legal Examiner from 1907 - 1909. In 1909, James T. Robison appointed Walker as his Chief Clerk. Walker served in that post until Robison's death in 1929, when Governor Dan Moody
Dan Moody
Daniel James Moody, Jr. , was a Democratic political figure, originally from Taylor, Texas, USA. He served as the 30th Governor of Texas between 1927 and 1931, and is best remembered as a reformer and an opponent of the Ku Klux Klan...
appointed him to succeed Robison as Commissioner. According to his official biography, "Walker and Robison had worked so closely for the preceding twenty years, Mr. Walker had little difficulty assuming the responsibilities or keeping course on directions set during the previous two decades."
Walker ran as a Democrat
Democratic 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...
and was elected as Commissioner in 1930 and re-elected in 1932 and 1934. The main functions of the office during Walker's tenure as Commissioner reflected the increased interest in managing oil and gas-producing lands, as well as the public lands of the land-grant colleges: (University of Texas and Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
). During the Great Depression, he successfully persuaded the School Land Board not to evict lessees on their lands who were unemployed and could not make their payments. As a result of this, Walker is credited with keeping thousands of families from losing their homes.
In 1936, Walker announced that he would not seek reelection. From 1936 until his death in 1947, Walker served as Land Officer of the University of Texas.
Walker died on June 14, 1947 and was buried at the Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
in Austin, Texas
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...
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