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{{Short description|Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox Governor
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Pat Morris Neff
|name = Pat Morris Neff
|image =PatMNeff.jpg
|image = PatMNeff.jpg
|order1 = 28th
|order1 = 28th
|office1 = Governor of Texas
|office1 = Governor of Texas
|term_start1 = January 18, 1921
|term_start1 = January 18, 1921
|term_end1 = January 20, 1925
|term_end1 = January 20, 1925
|lieutenant1 = Lynch Davidson<br />[[Thomas Whitfield Davidson]]
|lieutenant1 = Lynch Davidson<br />[[Thomas Whitfield Davidson]]
|predecessor1= [[William P. Hobby]]
|predecessor1 = [[William P. Hobby]]
|successor1 = [[Miriam A. Ferguson]]
|successor1 = [[Miriam A. Ferguson]]
|office2 =[[Texas Railroad Commission]]er
|office2 = [[Railroad Commission of Texas|Railroad Commissioner of Texas]]
|governor2 = [[Dan Moody]]<br>[[Ross S. Sterling]]
|term_start2 =1929
|term_start2 = January 1, 1929
|term_end2 =1932
|term_end2 = January 1, 1933
|preceded2 =
|preceded2 = Clarence Gilmore
|succeeded2 =[[Ernest O. Thompson]]
|succeeded2 = [[Ernest O. Thompson]]
|office3= Member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]] from the 68th District
|state_house3 = Texas
|term_start3= January 13, 1903
|district3 = [[Texas's 68th House of Representatives district|68th]]
|term_end3= January 10, 1905
|term_start3 = January 13, 1903
|preceded3= John Hemphill
|term_end3 = January 10, 1905
|succeeded3= George W. Barcus
|preceded3 = John Hemphill
|office4= Member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]] from the 66th District
|succeeded3 = George W. Barcus
|term_start4= January 10, 1899
|state_house4 = Texas
|term_end4= January 13, 1903
|district4 = [[Texas's 66th House of Representatives district|66th]]
|preceded4= James Sluder
|term_start4 = January 10, 1899
|succeeded4= Edward English
|term_end4 = January 13, 1903
|birth_date = {{birth date|1871|11|26}}
|preceded4 = James Sluder
|birth_place = [Coryell County, Texas], U.S.
|succeeded4 = Edward English
|death_date = {{death date and age|1952|1|20|1871|11|26}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1871|11|26}}
|death_place = [[Waco, Texas]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Coryell County, Texas]], U.S.
|resting_place=[[Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)|Oakwood Cemetery]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1952|1|20|1871|11|26}}
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse = Myrtle Mainer Neff
|death_place = [[Waco, Texas]], U.S.
|resting_place = [[Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)|Oakwood Cemetery]]
|children = Hallie Maude Neff Wilcox, Pat M. Neff, Jr.
|profession ={{hlist|[[Attorney at law (United States)|Attorney]]|College president}}
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse = {{marriage|Myrtle Mainer|1899}}
|alma_mater={{hlist|[[Baylor University]]|[[University of Texas Law School]]}}
|children = 2
|profession = {{hlist|[[Attorney at law (United States)|Attorney]]|College president}}
|alma_mater = [[Baylor University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])<br>[[University of Texas School of Law|University of Texas]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
}}
}}


{{Southern Baptists}}
'''Pat Morris Neff''' (November 26, 1871 – January 20, 1952) was the [[List of Governors of Texas|28th Governor of Texas]] from 1921 to 1925, ninth President of [[Baylor University]] from 1932 to 1947, and twenty-fifth president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] from 1944 to 1946.

'''Pat Morris Neff''' (November 26, 1871 – January 20, 1952) was an American politician, educator and administrator, and the [[List of Governors of Texas|28th Governor of Texas]] from 1921 to 1925, ninth President of [[Baylor University]] from 1932 to 1947, and twenty-fifth president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] from 1944 to 1946. He served as Grand Master of Masons in Texas in 1946.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born on his family ranch near the Eagle Springs community in Coryell County, Texas. Neff attended [[McGregor High School (Texas)|McGregor High School]]. He received his [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] before spending two years teaching at Southwestern Academy in [[Magnolia, Arkansas|Magnolia]], [[Arkansas]]. While in Magnolia, Neff taught [[Harvey C. Couch]], who would later become a successful entrepreneur in Arkansas.
Born on his family ranch near the Eagle Springs community in [[Coryell County, Texas]], to Isabella Neff and her husband Noah, Pat Neff grew up on the Texas frontier and attended local schools. He graduated from [[McGregor High School (Texas)|McGregor High School]]. He received his [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]].
He worked for the next two years teaching at Southwestern Academy in [[Magnolia, Arkansas|Magnolia]], [[Arkansas]], to earn money to go to law school. Among his students was [[Harvey C. Couch]], who would later become a successful entrepreneur in Arkansas.

Upon returning to Texas, Neff studied and received his law degree from the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neff, Pat Morris |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/neff-pat-morris |last=Turner |first=Thomas E. |access-date=November 20, 2023}}</ref> There, he developed a close friendship with [[Tom Connally]] and [[Morris Sheppard]] of Texas, who both became politicians and were later elected as U.S. senators from the state.

After receiving his law degree and passing the bar, on May 31, 1899, Neff married Baylor classmate Myrtle Mainer in her hometown of [[Lovelady, Texas|Lovelady]]. In 1901, they had a daughter, whom they named Hallie Maude. They also had a son, Pat M. Neff, Jr.

==Public office in Texas==
Neff joined the Democratic Party and entered politics, being elected in 1898 to the [[Texas House of Representatives]], and serving from 1899 to 1905. He was elected to one term as [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives|Speaker]]. After returning to his law practice in Waco, Neff served for six years as the assistant county attorney and then as county attorney for [[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan County]].


Considered a [[Progressivism|progressive]] [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Neff defeated former U.S. Senator [[Joseph Weldon Bailey]], a former [[Populism|populist]], in the party primary for governor in 1920. This defeat effectively ended Bailey's political career. Neff handily won the general election and started his term in 1921.
Upon returning to Texas, he received his law degree from the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. There, he developed a close friendship with future [[U.S. Senator]]s [[Tom Connally]] and [[Morris Sheppard]] of Texas. On May 31, 1899, he married his Baylor classmate Myrtle Mainer in her hometown of [[Lovelady, Texas|Lovelady]]. He served in the [[Texas House of Representatives]] from 1899 to 1905, including a term as [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives|Speaker]]. After returning to his law practice in Waco, Neff was for six years the assistant county attorney and county attorney for [[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan County]]. In 1901, Pat and Myrtle Neff had a daughter whom they named Hallie Maude. They also had a son, Pat M. Neff, Jr.


Neff was a strong supporter of [[prohibition]]. He was instrumental in the development of the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|Texas State Parks Board]]. Neff and his mother, Isabella Neff, donated the land which would become the first state park in Texas. It was named [[Mother Neff State Park]]. During the resurgence of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] during his administration, Neff was criticized for not taking a stronger stance. Neff is notable for his pardon of folk singer [[Lead Belly]] in his last days as governor.
==Public Office in Texas==
Considered a [[Progressivism|progressive]] [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Neff defeated former U.S. Senator [[Joseph Weldon Bailey]], a former [[Populism|populist]], in the party primary in 1920 and effectively ended Bailey's political career.


Neff was reelected in 1922 but did not seek a third term in 1924. At the time, it was "understood" that no governor should run for a third term, although Texas did not have official term limits for the office.
Neff was a strong supporter of [[prohibition]] and was instrumental in the development of the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|Texas State Parks Board]]. Neff and his mother, Isabella Neff, donated the land which would become the first state park in Texas, [[Mother Neff State Park]]. During the resurgence of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] during his administration, Neff was criticized for not taking a stronger stance. Neff is notable for his pardon of folk singer [[Lead Belly]] in his last days as governor.


In 1924 [[Miriam Ferguson|Miriam Wallace "Ma" Ferguson]], wife of controversial former Governor [[James E. Ferguson]], won the general election. The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[nominee]], [[George C. Butte]], an American jurist who had opposed James Ferguson's [[line item veto]] of the 1917 University of Texas appropriations bill, had a stronger than usual showing. Many voters crossed party lines to vote for him, as they were unhappy with the corruption associated with "Pa" Ferguson.
In 1921, the West Texas Chamber of Commerce supported legislation passed by both houses of the Texas Legislature to establish a West Texas A&M College. The bill was [[veto]]ed by Governor Neff, who said that the state could not afford another state college designed for thinly populated [[West Texas]]. He also defended his veto on grounds that the proposed college was not included in the 1920 Democratic state [[Political platform|platform]]. Neff's veto stirred up a political firestorm; two years later he was prepared to sign similar legislation co-authored by [[Texas State Senate|State Senator]] [[William H. Bledsoe]] of [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]. The result of the new legislative mission, with a $1 million appropriation, was what is now known as [[Texas Tech University]].


Neff served as a member of the [[Railroad Commission of Texas]] from 1929 to 1933.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/commissioners/commissioner-list/|title=Railroad Commissioners Past through Present|access-date=April 3, 2024|website=www.rrc.texas.gov}}</ref>
Neff was reelected in 1922 but did not seek a third term in 1924. At the time, it was "understood" that no governor should run for a third term though Texas has never had official term limits for the office. Neff was succeeded as governor by [[Miriam Ferguson|Miriam Wallace "Ma" Ferguson]], wife of controversial former Governor [[James E. Ferguson]], who defeated a stronger-than-usual [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[nominee]], [[George C. Butte]], an American jurist who had opposed James Ferguson's [[line item veto]] of the 1917 University of Texas appropriations bill. After leaving the governorship, Neff served on the [[Texas Railroad Commission]]. Governor [[Ross S. Sterling|Ross Sterling]] appointed [[Ernest O. Thompson]] of [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]] to succeed Neff when he left the position to become President of Baylor University. Thompson served on the panel for thirty-two years and developed a reputation as an expert on [[petroleum]] issues.


==President of Baylor University==
==President of Baylor University==
After the death of [[Samuel Palmer Brooks]], Neff was nominated to replace him as President of Baylor University. He resigned the post of President of the Board of Trustees, a position that he had held since it was vacated by [[Benajah Harvey Carroll|B. H. Carroll]] in 1907, upon the nomination as President.
After the death of [[Samuel Palmer Brooks]], Neff was nominated to replace him as President of Baylor University. He resigned the post of President of the Board of Trustees, a position that he had held since it was vacated by [[Benajah Harvey Carroll|B. H. Carroll]] in 1907, upon the nomination as President. In 1947, Neff was asked to stay on as the President by the staff at Baylor University.


[[Image:Patneffhallbaylor.jpg|right|thumbnail|Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University]]
[[Image:Patneffhallbaylor.jpg|right|thumbnail|Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University]]
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==President of the Southern Baptist Convention==
==President of the Southern Baptist Convention==
Neff was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1944 to 1946.
Neff was [[Southern Baptist Convention Presidents|president of the Southern Baptist Convention]] from 1944 to 1946.


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people]]
*[[Southern Baptist Convention]]
*[[Southern Baptist Convention Presidents]]
*[[Wahrenberger House]]
*[[Wahrenberger House]]


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{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William P. Hobby]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Texas]]|years=[[1920 Texas gubernatorial election|1920]], [[1922 Texas gubernatorial election|1922]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Miriam A. Ferguson]]}}
{{succession box
{{succession box
| before=[[W.W. Hamilton]]
| before=[[W.W. Hamilton]]
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{{succession box
{{succession box
|title=[[Texas Railroad Commission]]er
|title=[[Texas Railroad Commission]]er
|before=Missing
|before=[[Clarence Gilmore]]
|after=[[Ernest O. Thompson]]
|after=[[Ernest O. Thompson]]
|years=1929–1932}}
|years=1929–1932}}
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{{Governors of Texas}}
{{Governors of Texas}}
{{TXSpeakers}}
{{TXSpeakers}}
{{Railroad Commissioners of Texas}}
{{Baylor University presidents}}
{{Baylor University presidents}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:Burials at Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)]]
[[Category:Burials at Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)]]
[[Category:People from Waco, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Waco, Texas]]
[[Category:American educators]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas Democrats]]
[[Category:Governors of Texas]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Railroad Commission of Texas]]
[[Category:Members of the Railroad Commission of Texas]]
[[Category:Baylor University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:American university and college presidents]]
[[Category:Presidents of Baylor University]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist Convention presidents]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist Convention presidents]]
[[Category:Democratic Party state governors of the United States]]
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of Texas]]
[[Category:People from McGregor, Texas]]
[[Category:People from McGregor, Texas]]
[[Category:Temperance activists from Texas]]

Latest revision as of 02:29, 20 August 2024

Pat Morris Neff
28th Governor of Texas
In office
January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925
LieutenantLynch Davidson
Thomas Whitfield Davidson
Preceded byWilliam P. Hobby
Succeeded byMiriam A. Ferguson
Railroad Commissioner of Texas
In office
January 1, 1929 – January 1, 1933
GovernorDan Moody
Ross S. Sterling
Preceded byClarence Gilmore
Succeeded byErnest O. Thompson
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 68th district
In office
January 13, 1903 – January 10, 1905
Preceded byJohn Hemphill
Succeeded byGeorge W. Barcus
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 66th district
In office
January 10, 1899 – January 13, 1903
Preceded byJames Sluder
Succeeded byEdward English
Personal details
Born(1871-11-26)November 26, 1871
Coryell County, Texas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 20, 1952(1952-01-20) (aged 80)
Waco, Texas, U.S.
Resting placeOakwood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Myrtle Mainer
(m. 1899)
Children2
Alma materBaylor University (AB)
University of Texas (LLB)
Profession

Pat Morris Neff (November 26, 1871 – January 20, 1952) was an American politician, educator and administrator, and the 28th Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925, ninth President of Baylor University from 1932 to 1947, and twenty-fifth president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1944 to 1946. He served as Grand Master of Masons in Texas in 1946.

Early life

[edit]

Born on his family ranch near the Eagle Springs community in Coryell County, Texas, to Isabella Neff and her husband Noah, Pat Neff grew up on the Texas frontier and attended local schools. He graduated from McGregor High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Baylor University in Waco.

He worked for the next two years teaching at Southwestern Academy in Magnolia, Arkansas, to earn money to go to law school. Among his students was Harvey C. Couch, who would later become a successful entrepreneur in Arkansas.

Upon returning to Texas, Neff studied and received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin.[1] There, he developed a close friendship with Tom Connally and Morris Sheppard of Texas, who both became politicians and were later elected as U.S. senators from the state.

After receiving his law degree and passing the bar, on May 31, 1899, Neff married Baylor classmate Myrtle Mainer in her hometown of Lovelady. In 1901, they had a daughter, whom they named Hallie Maude. They also had a son, Pat M. Neff, Jr.

Public office in Texas

[edit]

Neff joined the Democratic Party and entered politics, being elected in 1898 to the Texas House of Representatives, and serving from 1899 to 1905. He was elected to one term as Speaker. After returning to his law practice in Waco, Neff served for six years as the assistant county attorney and then as county attorney for McLennan County.

Considered a progressive Democrat, Neff defeated former U.S. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey, a former populist, in the party primary for governor in 1920. This defeat effectively ended Bailey's political career. Neff handily won the general election and started his term in 1921.

Neff was a strong supporter of prohibition. He was instrumental in the development of the Texas State Parks Board. Neff and his mother, Isabella Neff, donated the land which would become the first state park in Texas. It was named Mother Neff State Park. During the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan during his administration, Neff was criticized for not taking a stronger stance. Neff is notable for his pardon of folk singer Lead Belly in his last days as governor.

Neff was reelected in 1922 but did not seek a third term in 1924. At the time, it was "understood" that no governor should run for a third term, although Texas did not have official term limits for the office.

In 1924 Miriam Wallace "Ma" Ferguson, wife of controversial former Governor James E. Ferguson, won the general election. The Republican nominee, George C. Butte, an American jurist who had opposed James Ferguson's line item veto of the 1917 University of Texas appropriations bill, had a stronger than usual showing. Many voters crossed party lines to vote for him, as they were unhappy with the corruption associated with "Pa" Ferguson.

Neff served as a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas from 1929 to 1933.[2]

President of Baylor University

[edit]

After the death of Samuel Palmer Brooks, Neff was nominated to replace him as President of Baylor University. He resigned the post of President of the Board of Trustees, a position that he had held since it was vacated by B. H. Carroll in 1907, upon the nomination as President. In 1947, Neff was asked to stay on as the President by the staff at Baylor University.

Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University
Illustration of Neff and handwritten signature from 1933 Baylor University "Roundup" yearbook

President of the Southern Baptist Convention

[edit]

Neff was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1944 to 1946.

Legacy

[edit]

Pat Neff Elementary School in Houston and Pat Neff Middle School of San Antonio (Northside Independent School District) are named for Neff, as is Pat Neff Hall at Baylor.

Neff died in Waco and is interred there at Oakwood Cemetery. His papers, including those from his time as governor, are housed in The Texas Collection at Baylor University.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Turner, Thomas E. "Neff, Pat Morris". Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Railroad Commissioners Past through Present". www.rrc.texas.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  • Dorothy Blodgett, Terrell Blodgett, and David L. Scott, The Land, the Law, and the Lord: The Life of Pat Neff (2007).
  • Stanley, Mark. "Booze, boomtowns, and burning crosses: The turbulent governorship of Pat M. Neff of Texas, 1921—1925," M.A. thesis, University of North Texas, 2005, 138 pages; AAT 1430156 in PROQUEST
  • Neff (Pat Morris) Collection, The Texas Collection, Baylor University
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas
1920, 1922
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Southern Baptist Convention
1944–1946
Succeeded by
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 66 (Waco)

1899–1903
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 68 (Waco)

1903–1905
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
1903–1905
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Texas
January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925
Succeeded by
Preceded by Texas Railroad Commissioner
1929–1932
Succeeded by