Pat Morris Neff

Pat Morris Neff
28th Governor of Texas
In office January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925
Lieutenant	Lynch Davidson Thomas Whitfield Davidson
Preceded by	William P. Hobby
Succeeded by	Miriam A. Ferguson
Texas Railroad Commissioner
In office 1929–1932
Succeeded by	Ernest O. Thompson
Personal details
Born	November 26, 1871 McGregor, Texas, USA
Died	January 20, 1952(1952-01-20) (aged 80) Waco, Texas
Resting place	Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Myrtle Mainer Neff
Children	Hallie Maude Neff Wilcox
Alma mater	Baylor University University of Texas Law School
Profession	Attorney College president

Pat Morris Neff (26 November 1871 – 20 January 1952) was the 28th Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925 and ninth President of Baylor University from 1932 to 1947.

Early life

Born on his family ranch in Coryell County near McGregor, Texas, Neff attended McGregor High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Baylor University in Waco before spending two years teaching at Southwestern Academy in Magnolia, Arkansas. While in Magnolia, Neff taught Harvey C. Couch, who would later become a successful entrepreneur in Arkansas.

Upon returning to Texas, he received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. There, he developed a close friendship with future U.S. Senators Tom Connally and Morris Sheppard of Texas. On May 31, 1899, he married his Baylor classmate Myrtle Mainer in her hometown of Lovelady. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1899 to 1905, including a term as Speaker. After returning to his law practice in Waco, Neff was for six years the assistant county attorney and county attorney for McLennan County. In 1901, Pat and Myrtle Neff had a daughter whom they named Hallie Maude.

Public Office in Texas

Considered a progressive Democrat, Neff defeated former U.S. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey, a former populist, in the party primary in 1920 and effectively ended Bailey's political career.

Neff was a strong supporter of prohibition and 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, 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 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 vetoed 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 platform. Neff's veto stirred up a political firestorm; two years later he was prepared to sign similar legislation co-authored by State Senator William H. Bledsoe of Lubbock. The result of the new legislative mission, with a $1 million appropriation, was what is now known as Texas Tech University.

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 Wallace "Ma" Ferguson, wife of controversial former Governor James E. Ferguson, who defeated a stronger-than-usual 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 Sterling appointed Ernest O. Thompson of 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

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.

Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University

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

Legacy

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

• Wahrenberger House

References

• 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

External links

• Pat Morris Neff from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Speeches delivered by Pat M. Neff, Governor of Texas, discussing certain phases of contemplated legislation, hosted by the Portal to Texas History]
• Messages of Pat M. Neff, Governor of Texas to the thirty-seventh legislature, hosted by the Portal to Texas History]
• Baylor University Web Site
• 1933 Baylor University "Roundup" via the Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections