Ross S. Sterling

Ross Shaw Sterling
Born	Template:Birth date Anahuac, Chambers County, Texas, U.S.
Died	March 25, 1949(1949-03-25) (aged 74) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, politician
Years active	Early 1900s–1933
Known for	31st governor of Texas; co-founder of Humble Oil Company (later ExxonMobil)

Ross Shaw Sterling (February 11, 1875 – March 25, 1949) was an American statesman who held the position of the 31st governor of Texas from 1931 until 1933.

Early years

Born near Houston in Anahuac, Chambers County, Sterling had minimal formal schooling and began his career as a clerk at the age of twelve.

Career

By the age of 21, Sterling had established his own retail enterprise. In 1911, he partnered with his brother Frank Sterling and other oil entrepreneurs to create the Humble Oil Company, which later evolved into Exxon-Mobil. Their sister, Florence M. Sterling, also participated in this business venture. Collectively, the siblings were referred to as the "Trio."

Sterling's business interests extended beyond petroleum; he also invested in railroads, banking, and Houston real estate, and was the proprietor of the former Houston Post newspaper. Additionally, he served on the Houston Port Commission and led the Texas Highway Commission during Governor Dan Moody's administration.

Public service

A member of the Democratic Party, Sterling won the 1930 gubernatorial primary against former Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson and other contenders. His administration coincided with a period of rapid and unregulated growth in the East Texas oil fields. The Railroad Commission of Texas attempted to implement production proration; however, initial judicial rulings invalidated these measures. To address this crisis, Sterling imposed martial law over four counties for six months and deployed National Guard units to reduce waste and regulate output. Federal courts and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court later deemed his actions excessive and upheld the Railroad Commission's proration authority. Throughout his governorship, cotton prices experienced a steady decline.

Sterling's defeat in the 1932 primary stands as one of the narrowest losses for a sitting governor in United States history.

Personal life and death

On October 10, 1898, Sterling married Maud Abbie Gage.

He passed away in Fort Worth on March 25, 1949, with interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

Three educational institutions in Texas carry his name: Sterling High School in Baytown, Sterling High School in Houston, and Ross Sterling Middle School located in Humble. His grand-nephew, Republican Ross N. Sterling, was appointed as a federal judge in Texas by President Gerald R. Ford Jr.

In 1925, Sterling’s daughter Mildred wed noted Fort Worth architect Wyatt C. Hedrick.

The residence once owned by Sterling, constructed around 1910, was moved in 1999 from Westheimer Road to the intersection of Bagby and Rosalie for preservation purposes. It reopened in 2015 functioning as a bar and restaurant named Sterling House.

External links

• http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/40032/tsl-40032.html