Ross S. Sterling
Encyclopedia
Ross Shaw Sterling was a U.S.
political figure who was the 31st Governor of Texas
, having served a single two-year term between January 20, 1931, and January 17, 1933.
Sterling was born in Anahuac
in Chambers County near Houston
, Texas
. He grew up on a farm and, after little formal education, began working as a clerk at the age of twelve. At the age of twenty-one, he launched his own merchandising business, and in 1911 he organized the Humble Oil Company, since Exxon-Mobil.
In addition to oil
, Sterling was also involved in a railroad, the former Houston Post
newspaper
, banking, and real estate
in the Houston area. He was a member of the Houston Port Commission. He served as chair of the Texas Highway Commission under his predecessor governor, Dan Moody
.
In 1925, Sterling's daughter Mildred married the prominent architect Wyatt C. Hedrick
of Fort Worth
, Texas.
A Democrat
, Sterling defeated former Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson and several other candidates in the 1930 primary race for governor. During Sterling's term in office, the East Texas oil fields experienced rapid and uncontrolled development. The Railroad Commission of Texas
attempted pro-ration, but the courts struck down the plan. Because of the chaotic situation, Sterling declared martial law
in four counties for six months. National Guard
troops were sent to the oil fields to limit waste and control production. This action was later declared unwarranted by the federal district court and the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Railroad Commission's plan for proration was accepted. Cotton prices continued to decline during Sterling's term in office.
Sterling's gubernatorial secretary, Jessie Ziegler of Houston, apparently exerted wide latitude in his administration of the office. She was known to have altered mail correspondence in which Sterling became intemperate with demanding constituents so as not to close the door on gaining future support from such irate voters. She was known to advise him on decision making, including the issuance of pardons in the aftermath of scandals in the previous Ferguson administrations. After Sterling's loss in the 1932 Democratic primary to Miriam Ferguson, whom he had defeated in 1930, Ziegler took a similar but lower-paying staff job with a state senator.
Sterling died at the age of seventy-four. Two Texas high schools, Sterling High School
in Baytown
, and Sterling High School
in Houston
, are named for him. In addition, his grand-nephew, Ross N. Sterling
, a Republican
, became a United States federal judge
in Texas under appointment of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
Sterling's former house, built about 1910, was moved in 1999 from 106 Westheimer Road
to the intersection of Bagby and Rosalie to undergo restoration.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political figure who was the 31st 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...
, having served a single two-year term between January 20, 1931, and January 17, 1933.
Sterling was born in Anahuac
Anahuac, Texas
Anahuac is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population of the city was 2,210 at the 2000 census. Anahuac is the seat of Chambers County and is situated in East Texas.- History :...
in Chambers County near Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, 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...
. He grew up on a farm and, after little formal education, began working as a clerk at the age of twelve. At the age of twenty-one, he launched his own merchandising business, and in 1911 he organized the Humble Oil Company, since Exxon-Mobil.
In addition to oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, Sterling was also involved in a railroad, the former Houston Post
Houston Post
The Houston Post was a newspaper that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States. In 1995, the newspaper was absorbed into the Houston Chronicle.-History:The newspaper was established on February 19, 1880, by Gail Borden Johnson...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, banking, and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
in the Houston area. He was a member of the Houston Port Commission. He served as chair of the Texas Highway Commission under his predecessor 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...
.
Wyatt C. Hedrick
Wyatt Cephus Hedrick was an American architect, engineer, and developer most active in Texas and the American South....
of Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Texas.
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...
, Sterling defeated former Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson and several other candidates in the 1930 primary race for governor. During Sterling's term in office, the East Texas oil fields experienced rapid and uncontrolled development. The Railroad Commission of Texas
Railroad Commission of Texas
The Railroad Commission of Texas is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining .Established by the Texas Legislature in 1891, it is the state's oldest regulatory...
attempted pro-ration, but the courts struck down the plan. Because of the chaotic situation, Sterling declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
in four counties for six months. National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
troops were sent to the oil fields to limit waste and control production. This action was later declared unwarranted by the federal district court and the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Railroad Commission's plan for proration was accepted. Cotton prices continued to decline during Sterling's term in office.
Sterling's gubernatorial secretary, Jessie Ziegler of Houston, apparently exerted wide latitude in his administration of the office. She was known to have altered mail correspondence in which Sterling became intemperate with demanding constituents so as not to close the door on gaining future support from such irate voters. She was known to advise him on decision making, including the issuance of pardons in the aftermath of scandals in the previous Ferguson administrations. After Sterling's loss in the 1932 Democratic primary to Miriam Ferguson, whom he had defeated in 1930, Ziegler took a similar but lower-paying staff job with a state senator.
Sterling died at the age of seventy-four. Two Texas high schools, Sterling High School
Sterling High School (Baytown, Texas)
Ross S. Sterling High School is a secondary school located in Baytown, Texas.Sterling, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. The school was built in 1966 to accommodate the growing population of Baytown. The campus has over and is...
in Baytown
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
, and Sterling High School
Sterling High School (Houston)
Ross Shaw Sterling High School is a secondary school located in Houston, Texas.Sterling, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Houston Independent School District....
in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, are named for him. In addition, his grand-nephew, Ross N. Sterling
Ross N. Sterling
Ross N. Sterling was a United States federal judge.Sterling was born in Houston, Texas in the same year that his grand-uncle Ross S. Sterling became governor of the state. Sterling was in the United States Army from 1951 to 1954, and then received a B.A. from the University of Texas in 1956...
, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, became a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in Texas under appointment of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, Jr.
Sterling's former house, built about 1910, was moved in 1999 from 106 Westheimer Road
Westheimer Road
Westheimer Road is an arterial road in the western half of Houston, Texas, United States. It runs from Bagby Street west to the Westpark Tollway. Westheimer Road runs roughly parallel to and south of Buffalo Bayou throughout its course. The street was named after Michael Louis Westheimer, a...
to the intersection of Bagby and Rosalie to undergo restoration.
External links
- http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/40032/tsl-40032.html