DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the voice carryin' it to you. Corsicana, Texas. That's where Beauford H.
Jester came into the world, born in 1893 at the family home. He went to public school right there, same town, and he'd come back to it again and again — but we're getting ahead of ourselves. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1916, and by all accounts the world was opening up in front of him.
He enrolled at Harvard Law School. Then came the war. He left Harvard and served as a captain in the 90th Division during World War I.
When he came home, he didn't pick up where he left off at Harvard — he went back to Texas, graduated in law from the University of Texas in 1920, and became, of all things, an avid baseball player. A man of range, this Jester. For many years after that he practiced law and had oil interests in Corsicana.
The town that made him kept him close. Now, here's a detail worth holding onto. When Jester was a boy, he had slept in the Governor's Mansion — because his father, George T.
Jester, was lieutenant governor. So when Beauford Jester was elected governor in 1946, running as a Jeffersonian Conservative, and the inauguration day came around — his World War I buddies carried him on their shoulders right into that mansion. You can make of that what you will.
He served as Governor of Texas from 1947 to 1949. His was not a quiet administration. The Gilmer-Aikin Law was passed on his watch — a significant piece of legislation that raised the standards of public education in Texas.
His administration also made strides toward prison reform, water control, and improved public roads. And then there was April of 1947. The Texas City explosions.
Over four hundred persons killed. Jester didn't stay in Austin and issue statements — he personally assisted rescue operations. That's the marker's word: personally.
He was re-elected in 1948. In 1949, the Texas legislature adjourned after the longest regular session in Texas history. Jester had been carrying that weight.
He left to take a vacation in Galveston. He died en route — natural causes. He was the only Texas governor to die in office.
His wife was Mabel Buchanan. They had three children. Born in Corsicana in 1893.
Died in 1949, on the road to a rest he'd more than earned. The only governor Texas ever lost while still holding the office — and the marker that remembers him stands right where it all began.
What the marker says
(1893-1949) Governor of Texas (1947-1949) Chief executive when significant Gilmer-Aikin Law was passed, raising standards of public education in Texas, his administration also made strides toward prison reform, water control, improved public roads. Jester was born at family home in Corsicana, where he attended public school. He graduated from University of Texas, 1916; left Harvard Law School to serve as captain in 90th division during World War I. Graduated in law from University of Texas, 1920, and became avid baseball player. For many years, Jester practiced law and had oil interests in Corsicana. In 1946 he was elected governor as a Jeffersonian Conservative. At the inauguration, World War I buddies carried him on their shoulders into the Governor's Mansion, where he had slept as a boy when his father, George T. Jester, was lieutenant governor. After the disastrous Texas City explosions killed over 400 persons in 1947, Jester personally assisted rescue operations. He was re-elected in 1948. When the legislature adjourned in 1949 after the longest regular session in Texas history, he left to take a vacation in Galveston, but died en route of natural causes. He was the only Texas governor to die in office. His wife was Mabel Buchanan; they had 3 children. (1968)