Texas Governor

Oscar Colquitt

Mural

Oscar Colquitt was born on December 16th, 1861, in Camila, Georgia, to parents Thomas Jefferson Colquitt and Ann Elizabeth Burkhalter-Colquitt.

The Colquitt family had often engaged in political service; two of his uncles served as U.S. Senators, and his father served as an officer in the Confederate States Army. After the Civil War, Colquitt’s father attempted to farm using formerly enslaved people as laborers. However, the weather destroyed their harvest along with their livelihood. The family then moved to Daingerfield, Texas, where Coquitt became a “Printer’s Devil” for the Morris County Banner until 1884, when he purchased his newspaper, the Pittsburg Gazette, which turned into the Times-Star. Colquitt’s other achievements include:

Establishing the First National Bank of Terrell.

Serving on the Texas Senate.

Former Texas State Revenue Agent.

Former Texas Railroad Commissioner.

In 1911, Colquitt was elected as the 25th Governor of Texas. While serving, Colquitt completed the state prison system reform and increased appropriations for Texas’ educational systems and labor protections. After his Governorship, he worked for the petroleum industry in Dallas and served on the U.S. Board of Mediation until he died in 1940. His official home was in Terrell until he left the Governor’s office. Charlie Bullock painted this portrait of Governor Colquitt.