Hobby was the first secretary of the department of health, education and welfare, first commanding officer of the womens army corps, chairman of the board of the houston post, and wife to texas lt. In 1929, she joined the staff of the post, where she met and married former governor william hobby. During world war ii, she was asked to build a womens army from scrat. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. In 1953 she was appointed secretary of the new department of health, education, and welfare hew, now health and human services, becoming the second woman to hold a cabinet position in the u. Oveta culp hobby elementary elementary school fort hood. Colonel, cabinet member, philanthropist has written a guide for women to follow and oveta culp hobby is clearly an example worth emulating. Senator kay bailey hutchison included a chapter on hobby in her book. Oveta culp hobby, president and editor of the post and first secretary of health, education and welfare, in the eisenhower administration. The oveta culp hobby papers detail the public life of hobby, a houstonbased business, media, military, and political leader during the 1940s1980s. For students of the real world central texas college library. It is like the hub in a wheel with every spoke fitted into it to make a strong and perfect circle.
Each week for 26 weeks, i am publishing a post about women who are not widely known but should bewomen who can inspire us, teach us, and encourage us to get out of our comfort zones and reach for our dreams. Central texas college is accredited by the southern association of colleges and schools commission on colleges to award associate degrees and certificates of completion. Oveta culp hobby, nee oveta culp, born january 19, 1905, killeen, texas, u. Womens army corps 194245, and first secretary of the department of health, education, and welfare 195355. The girls parents permitted her to develop her gifts organically.
Hobby, oveta culp the handbook of texas online texas. Guide to the oveta culp hobby papers,18171995 ms 459. Winner, gold medal for biography, military writers society of america, 2015 oveta culp hobby 19051995 had a lifetime of stellar achievement. Oveta culp hobby students britannica kids homework help. Written for middle school readers, it traces her life from her childhood in killeen to her remarkable achievements in. Oveta culp hobby learned about service to community and government from her family. Hobby achieved the rank of colonel and received the distinguished service medal for her efforts. Administrator, federal security administration, 1953. The unit was renamed womens army corps wac and hobby became the first female commanding officer in the u. Hobby became director of the womens army corps and the first army woman to earn the rank of colonel. Oveta culp hobby january 19, 1905august 16, 1995 was the first secretary of the united states department of health, education, and welfare, first commanding officer of the womens army corps, and chairman of the board of the houston post. During world war ii, she was asked to build a womens army from scratch and did. Title oveta culp hobby papers, summary correspondence, printed matter, and other papers relating to hobbys work during world war ii as chief of the womens interest section of the bureau of public relations in the war department and as the first director of the womens army auxiliary corps, renamed womens army corps in 1943.
The girls parents permitted her to develop her gifts organically, and by early adulthood she launched herself into the world of texas politics and business. American government official and businesswoman oveta culp hobby 19051995 held pioneering roles as the first head of both the womens army corps wacs and the department of health, education, and welfare hew. Hobby, oveta culp, 190595, american public official and newspaper publisher, u. Department of health, education and welfare, first director of the womens army corps, and a chairperson of the board of the houston post. Oveta culp hobby was an american editor and publisher of the houston post. During world war ii, she was asked to build a women. Secretary of health, education and welfare 195355, b. Oveta culp hobby is the first biography of this important woman. Womens army corps 194245, and first secretary of the department of. Nov 08, 2016 in this latest installment of our texas titles series, we look at a pioneer, a cause, a sport, a feud and a batch of the states artists. She is best known for serving as the director of the womens army corps and as the first secretary of the department of health, education and welfare. As a child she would read books far above her age level. Oveta culp hobby january 19, 1905 august 16, 1995 was the first secretary of the u. Womens army corps, and first secretary of the department of health, education, and welfare.
Oveta culp hobbys fascination with government began when she was a young girl. Journalist, politician, and civil servant, oveta culp hobby worked to better her community and her country throughout her lifetime. Without such a hub, spokes will not radiate evenly and your wheel will lack strength, will tend to break apart on the first good bump it hits. Its hard to believe that this is among first biographical treatments of a texan who ran the womens army corps becoming the first women colonel then served as secretary of health, education and.
The apt title describes only three of oveta culp hobbys multiple accomplishments. Oveta culp hobby 1 born january 19, 1905 killeen, texas 2 died august 16, 1995 houston 3, texas director of the womens army corps oveta culp hobby 4 was an attorney and a journalist who became director of the womens army auxiliary corps waac. Title oveta culp hobby papers, summary correspondence, printed matter, and other papers relating to hobby s work during world war ii as chief of the womens interest section of the bureau of public relations in the war department and as the first director of the womens army auxiliary corps, renamed womens army corps in 1943. Mar 07, 2014 oveta was the second woman in the us appointed to a cabinetlevel position thanks to president eisenhower upon whom she made a lasting impression while she was a colonel. Oveta culp hobby took a big step forward for women by creating what became a vital arm of the military.
Colonel, cabinet member, and philanthropist, will publish in april. Oveta culp hobby simple english wikipedia, the free. Women relieved thousands of men of their clerical assignments, and many performed nontraditional jobs such as radio operator, electrician, and. During world war ii oveta culp hobby served as director of the newly formed u.
I am pleased that debra winegarten has written her biography for our texas history students. Colonel, cabinet member, philanthropist is a good book to hand to a questioning middleschooler. From her father she acquired a love of the law and the workings of government. Oveta culp hobby, who commanded the unit, was instrumental in dispelling doubts, promoting the idea that each woman serving would release a man for combat. Winegartens new biography traces the life of an extraordinary woman who designed and ran the womens army corps for ww2 and was appointed secretary of health, education and welfare by president eisenhower. Dip into books about texas football, san antonio and, yes. Hobby, oveta culp the handbook of texas online texas state. In this latest installment of our texas titles series, we look at a pioneer, a cause, a sport, a feud and a batch of the states artists. Written for middle school readers, it traces her life from her childhood in killeen to her remarkable achievements in washington, dc, and houston.
Written for middle school readers, it traces her life from her childhood in killeen to her remarkable achievements in washington. It is no exaggeration to say that oveta culp hobby got her start in public service at her mothersand her fathersknee. Oveta culp hobby 19051995 had a lifetime of stellar achievement. During world war ii, she worked for the war department and was appointed commander of the womens auxiliary army. Oveta culp hobby, publisher of the houston post, began her career of public service at age 20 when she became the first woman parliamentarian of the texas house of representatives. On july 1, 1943, waac was given full military status, making it part of the u. The early days of texas produced a number of independentminded men and women who made their mark on the world. Chairman, about her activities at the texas state legislature.
Throughout her professional career, oveta culp hobby held leadership positions, shaped major institutions and influenced large numbers of people. She served as parliamentarian of the texas house of representatives from 1925 to 1931 and from 1939 to 1941. Week 15 of my a to z challenge introduces us to oveta culp hobby. Oveta culp hobby 19051995, first secretary of the department of health, education and welfare, first commanding officer of the womens army corps, and chairman of the board of the houston post, second of seven children of ike w. From one family in killeen came a baby girl, born in 1905, whose influence would span the entire century from the halls of texas government to the white house and beyond. Born on january 19, 1905, in killeen, texas, she was the second of ike and emma culps seven children. Oveta is a true texas trailblazer who left a tremendous legacy. During world war ii, she was asked to build a womens army from scratchand did. Oveta culp hobby was one of the most successful women in twentiethcentury america in business, government, and politics. Oveta culp hobby colonel, cabinet member, philanthropist by debra l. More than a biography, it will encourage the reader to not see obstacles but rather opportunities. Oveta culp hobby was an attorney and a journalist who became director of the womens army auxiliary corps waac. Oveta culp hobby, texas ingenuity, inventions, innovations. Oveta culp hobby, first secretary of the department of health, education and welfare, first commanding officer of the womens army corps, and chairman of the board of the houston post, second of seven children of ike w.
Contact the commission on colleges at 1866 southern lane, decatur, georgia 300334097 or call 4046794500 for questions about the accreditation of central texas college. Debra winegarten oveta culp hobby brazos bookstore. Oveta hobby january 19, 1905 august 16, 1995, american. Some people do seem to do it all, and hobby, as author debra winegarten demonstrates, is one of them. Oveta culp hobby elementary 53210 lost moccasin, fort hood, texas 76544 rated 4. Oveta culp hobby, first secretary of the department of health, education. Womens army corps and first secretary of the department of health, education and welfare, whose influence grew out of politics and newspaper ownership in texas. Oveta culp hobby, the second child and second daughter of a country family, was born with unusual intellectual gifts. Oveta was the second woman in the us appointed to a cabinetlevel position thanks to president eisenhower upon whom she made a lasting impression while she was a colonel.
She watched her mother collect food and clothing for the poor and was often sent to deliver baskets of goods to neighbors. Read oveta culp hobby colonel, cabinet member, philanthropist by debra l. Lee oveta culp hobby colonel, cabinet member, philanthropist por debra l. Dip into books about texas football, san antonio and, yes, oveta. Oveta culp hobby and womens history month by debra l. Colonel, cabinet member, philanthropist this young adult biography introduces readers to a remarkable woman who founded the womens army corps, served as secretary of health, education, and welfare, and ran a media empire that included the houston post newspaper and radio and tv stations. During world war ii, she was asked to build a womens army from scratch, and did. Up until this time, women were barred from most military jobs other than nursing.
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