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Full Description
Born on a farm near Anahuac, Texas, in 1875 and possessed of only a fourth-grade education, Ross Sterling was one of the most successful Texans of his generation. Driven by a relentless work ethic, he become a wealthy oilman, banker, newspaper publisher, and, from 1931 to 1933, one-term governor of Texas. Sterling was the principal founder of the Humble Oil and Refining Company, which eventually became the largest division of the ExxonMobil Corporation, as well as the owner of the Houston Post.
Eager to "preserve a narrative record of his life and deeds," Ross Sterling hired Ed Kilman, an old friend and editorial page editor of the Houston Post, to write his biography. Though the book was nearly finished before Sterling's death in 1949, it never found a publisher due to Kilman's florid writing style and overly hagiographic portrayal of Sterling.
In this volume, by contrast, editor Don Carleton uses the original oral history dictated by Ross Sterling to Ed Kilman to present the former governor's life story in his own words. Sterling vividly describes his formative years, early business ventures, and active role in developing the Texas oil industry. He also recalls his political career, from his appointment to the Texas Highway Commission to his term as governor, ending with his controversial defeat for reelection by "Ma" Ferguson. Sterling's reminiscences constitute an important primary source not only on the life of a Texan who deserves to be more widely remembered, but also on the history of Houston and the growth of the American oil industry.
Contents
Foreword by Dolph Briscoe, Jr.
Introduction by Don Carleton
Chapter 1. Double Bayou
Chapter 2. The Flip of a Coin
Chapter 3. The First Two Oil Wells
Chapter 4. Taking Over Standard
Chapter 5. A Personality Company
Chapter 6. Pulling Stakes at Fifty
Chapter 7. Deerslayers Deluxe
Chapter 8. Highways of Destiny
Chapter 9. The Unbonding Plan
Chapter 10. An Unpolitical Politician
Chapter 11. Pour It On
Chapter 12. The World Loves a Winner
Chapter 13. The Supreme Honor of My Life
Chapter 14. Crisis in East Texas
Chapter 15. Drowning in Ten-Cent Oil
Chapter 16. Holding the Bull
Chapter 17. Whistling in the Dark
Chapter 18. Flying Words and Eggs
Chapter 19. The Battle of the People
Chapter 20. It Was a Great Show
Chapter 21. Martial Law's Finale
Chapter 22. Back in the Chips
Chapter 23. The View from the Western Slope
Epilogue by Ed Kilman
Notes
Index
