William Pettus "Bill" Hobby, Jr., (D)
44th Governor of TX
July 25th, 1988 to January 17th, 1995
Monday, June 25th, 1988
Lieutenant Governor's Office: Reception Room (2nd Floor)
TX State Capitol
Austin, TX
While in a meeting with TX House of Representatives Speaker Gib Lewis (D-Forth Worth) & several key state lawmakers, General Counsel Leslie Benitez walked inside & directly towards Lieutenant Governor Hobby to tell him these words: "
Governor White has passed away just about sixteen minutes ago," & he was now automatically the 44th Governor of the State of Texas. Hobby arose from his chair, clearing his throat to get the attention of everyone inside his office, announcing to the lawmakers & staff in the room that Governor White has died. A stunned & shaken Hobby asked Benitez to call the Chief Justice of the TX Supreme Court, who was on vacation. Benitez contacted TX Supreme Court Associate Justice Raul Gonzalez (whom White appointed to the TX Supreme Court in 1984 & won a special election for the unexpired term in 1986); Escorted by DPS security detail agents, Gonzalez arrived at the Lieutenant Governor's office on the 2nd floor of the TX State Capitol inside the Reception Room to administer the Oath of Office.
Soon afterwards, Hobby asked for the telephone so that he could call Linda Gale & giving her his personal condolences. An obviously distraught and grief-stricken Linda Gale spoke briefly with Hobby on the phone where he did his very best to consoling her over the phone, letter her know that he & Diana are ready to serve or help her in any way. She ended the phone call him in a very breaking voice "Thank you Governor." Soon afterwards inside the Reception Room of the Lieutenant Governor's Office on the 2nd floor of the TX State Capitol in front of the TV cameras filming this historic occasion across the entire Lone Star State, Diana Stallings Hobby held the Sam Houston Bible that her husband of 34 years would place his left hand while raising his right hand on as Associate Justice Gonzalez administered the Oath of Office to the Lone Star State's 44th Governor.
"I, William Pettus Hobby, Jr., do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of Governor of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State; and I furthermore solemnly swear that I have not directly nor indirectly paid, offered, or promised to pay, contributed, nor promised to contribute any money, or valuable thing, or promised any public office or employment, as a reward for the giving or withholding a vote at the election at which I was elected. So help me God."
Right afterwards, Governor Hobby came to the podium that now had the Governor's Seal on it & spoke to a grieving State who were all uncertain on what would lie ahead for the Lone Star State going forward.
To Be Continued: Gubernatorial State Funeral festivities in Houston & Austin for the late Governor Mark Wells White, Jr., as Texans mourn the loss of the Lone Star State's 43rd Governor.