View source for Pat Morris Neff

{{Short description|Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925 (1871–1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Pat Morris Neff
|image         = PatMNeff.jpg
|order1        = 28th
|office1       = Governor of Texas
|term_start1   = January 18, 1921
|term_end1     = January 20, 1925
|lieutenant1   = Lynch Davidson<br />[[Thomas Whitfield Davidson]]
|predecessor1  = [[William P. Hobby]]
|successor1    = [[Miriam A. Ferguson]]
|office2       = [[Railroad Commission of Texas|Railroad Commissioner of Texas]]
|governor2     = [[Dan Moody]]<br>[[Ross S. Sterling]]
|term_start2   = January 1, 1929
|term_end2     = January 1, 1933
|preceded2     = Clarence Gilmore
|succeeded2    = [[Ernest O. Thompson]]
|state_house3  = Texas
|district3     = [[Texas's 68th House of Representatives district|68th]]
|term_start3   = January 13, 1903
|term_end3     = January 10, 1905
|preceded3     = John Hemphill
|succeeded3    = George W. Barcus
|state_house4  = Texas
|district4     = [[Texas's 66th House of Representatives district|66th]]
|term_start4   = January 10, 1899
|term_end4     = January 13, 1903
|preceded4     = James Sluder
|succeeded4    = Edward English
|birth_date    = {{birth date|1871|11|26}}
|birth_place   = [[Coryell County, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|1952|1|20|1871|11|26}}
|death_place   = [[Waco, Texas]], U.S.
|resting_place = [[Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)|Oakwood Cemetery]]
|party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse        = {{marriage|Myrtle Mainer|1899}}
|children      = 2
|profession    = {{hlist|[[Attorney at law (United States)|Attorney]]|College president}}
|alma_mater    = [[Baylor University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])<br>[[University of Texas School of Law|University of Texas]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
}}

{{Southern Baptists}}

'''Pat Morris Neff''' (November 26, 1871 – January 20, 1952) was an American politician and educator who served as the [[List of Governors of Texas|28th governor of Texas]] from 1921 to 1925. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served as the ninth president of [[Baylor University]] from 1932 to 1947 and the twenty-fifth president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] from 1944 to 1946. He served as Grand Master of Masons in Texas in 1946.

==Early life==
Born on his family ranch near the Eagle Springs community in [[Coryell County, Texas]], to Isabella Neff and her husband Noah, Pat Neff grew up on the Texas frontier and attended local schools. He graduated from [[McGregor High School (Texas)|McGregor High School]]. He received his [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]].

He worked for the next two years teaching at Southwestern Academy in [[Magnolia, Arkansas|Magnolia]], [[Arkansas]], to earn money to go to law school. Among his students was [[Harvey C. Couch]], who would later become a successful entrepreneur in Arkansas.

Upon returning to Texas, Neff studied and received his law degree from the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neff, Pat Morris |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/neff-pat-morris |last=Turner |first=Thomas E. |access-date=November 20, 2023}}</ref> There, he developed a close friendship with [[Tom Connally]] and [[Morris Sheppard]] of Texas, who both became politicians and were later elected as U.S. senators from the state.

After receiving his law degree and passing the bar, on May 31, 1899, Neff married Baylor classmate Myrtle Mainer in her hometown of [[Lovelady, Texas|Lovelady]]. In 1901, they had a daughter, whom they named Hallie Maude. They also had a son, Pat M. Neff, Jr.

==Public office in Texas==
Neff joined the Democratic Party and entered politics, being elected in 1898 to the [[Texas House of Representatives]], and serving from 1899 to 1905. He was elected to one term as [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives|Speaker]]. After returning to his law practice in Waco, Neff served for six years as the assistant county attorney and then as county attorney for [[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan County]].

Considered a [[Progressivism|progressive]] [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] and described as a "friend of organized labor,"<ref>[https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Consolidation_of_Railway_Properties/0XJJAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Consolidation+of+Railway+Properties+Hearings+Before+the+Committee+on+Interstate+Commerce,+U.S.+Senate,+Seventieth+Congress,+First+Session,+on+S.+1175+Neff+campaign+labor&pg=RA4-PA28&printsec=frontcover  Consolidation of Railway Properties Hearings Before the Committee on Interstate Commerce, U.S. Senate, Seventieth Congress, First Session, on S. 1175, a Bill to Promote the Unification of Carriers Engaged in Interstate Commerce, and for Other Purposes By United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Interstate Commerce, 1929, P.26]</ref> Neff defeated former U.S. Senator [[Joseph Weldon Bailey]], a former [[Populism|populist]], in the party primary for governor in 1920. This defeat effectively ended Bailey's political career. Neff handily won the general election and started his term in 1921. During his tenure, a number of reforms were carried out such as new labor laws,<ref>[https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/labor-legislation-1912-32-3905/labor-legislation-1921-492990?page=247 Title: Labor Legislation of 1921 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 308, P.243-245]</ref> the organization of cooperative marketing associations to assist farmers with selling their commodities,<ref>[https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_History_of_Texas/WdEQAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Pat+Neff+governor+Texas+labor+farmers&pg=PA280&printsec=frontcover The History of Texas By Robert A. Calvert, Arnoldo De Leon, Gregg Cantrell, 2014, P.280]</ref> and higher funding for vocational and rural schools.<ref>[https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/exec/governors/10.html Texas Politics Project biography on Pat M. Neff]</ref> 

Neff received criticism during his time as governor for vetoing a minimum wage act.<ref>[https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=054dd656642595cda731cf2b54c750e750003d26 BOOZE, BOOMTOWNS, AND BURNING CROSSES: THE TURBULENT GOVERNORSHIP OF PAT M. NEFF OF TEXAS, 1921-1925 Mark Stanley, BS, P.69]</ref> This was introduced to replace a previous minimum wage law that had been repealed by the Texas Legislature.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Stewart | first1=Frank M. | title=Notes from Texas | journal=The Southwestern Political Science Quarterly | date=1921 | volume=2 | issue=2 | pages=190–200 | jstor=42883863 | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42883863?seq=9 }}</ref> Much of Neff’s opposition to the measure, however, was directed to the fact that it excluded several categories of workers from its provisions, and in his veto message stated that his veto should not be interpreted as meaning that he did not believe in the possibility of a “just and entirely workable” minimum wage bill.<ref>[https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/vetoes/37/hb161.pdf VETO MESSAGE MARCH 30, 1921, Notes From Texas]</ref>

Neff was a strong supporter of [[prohibition]]. He was instrumental in the development of the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|Texas State Parks Board]]. Neff and his mother, Isabella Neff, donated the land which would become the first state park in Texas. It was named [[Mother Neff State Park]]. During the resurgence of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] during his administration, Neff was criticized for not taking a stronger stance.  Neff is notable for his pardon of folk singer [[Lead Belly]] in his last days as governor.

Neff was reelected in 1922 but did not seek a third term in 1924. At the time, it was "understood" that no governor should run for a third term, although Texas did not have official term limits for the office.

In 1924 [[Miriam Ferguson|Miriam Wallace "Ma" Ferguson]], wife of controversial former Governor [[James E. Ferguson]], won the general election. The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[nominee]], [[George C. Butte]], a jurist who had opposed James Ferguson's [[line item veto]] of the 1917 University of Texas appropriations bill, had a stronger than usual showing. Many voters crossed party lines to vote for him, as they were unhappy with the corruption associated with "Pa" Ferguson.

Neff served as a member of the [[Railroad Commission of Texas]] from 1929 to 1933.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/commissioners/commissioner-list/|title=Railroad Commissioners Past through Present|access-date=April 3, 2024|website=www.rrc.texas.gov}}</ref>

==President of Baylor University==
After the death of [[Samuel Palmer Brooks]], Neff was nominated to replace him as President of Baylor University. He resigned the post of President of the Board of Trustees, a position that he had held since it was vacated by [[Benajah Harvey Carroll|B. H. Carroll]] in 1907, upon the nomination as President. In 1947, Neff was asked to stay on as the President by the staff at Baylor University.

[[Image:Patneffhallbaylor.jpg|right|thumbnail|Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University]]
[[Image:Pat Neff illustration from 1933 Baylor "Roundup".jpg|right|thumbnail| Illustration of Neff and handwritten signature from 1933 Baylor University "Roundup" yearbook]]

==President of the Southern Baptist Convention==
Neff was [[Southern Baptist Convention Presidents|president of the Southern Baptist Convention]] from 1944 to 1946.

==Legacy==
[[Pat Neff Elementary School]] in Houston and Pat Neff Middle School of [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] ([[Northside Independent School District]]) are named for Neff, as is Pat Neff Hall at Baylor.

Neff died in Waco and is interred there at [[Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)|Oakwood Cemetery]]. His papers, including those from his time as governor, are housed in [[The Texas Collection]] at [[Baylor University]].

==See also==
*[[List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people]]
*[[Southern Baptist Convention]]
*[[Southern Baptist Convention Presidents]]
*[[Wahrenberger House]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Dorothy Blodgett, Terrell Blodgett, and David L. Scott, ''The Land, the Law, and the Lord: The Life of Pat Neff'' (2007).
* Stanley, Mark. "Booze, boomtowns, and burning crosses: The turbulent governorship of Pat M. Neff of Texas, 1921—1925," M.A. thesis, University of North Texas, 2005, 138 pages; AAT 1430156 in [[PROQUEST]]
* Neff (Pat Morris) Collection, The Texas Collection, Baylor University

==External links==
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=fne05|name=Pat Morris Neff}}
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5835 Speeches delivered by Pat M. Neff, Governor of Texas, discussing certain phases of contemplated legislation], hosted by the Portal to Texas History]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5871 Messages of Pat M. Neff, Governor of Texas to the thirty-seventh legislature], hosted by the Portal to Texas History]
* [http://www.baylor.edu Baylor University Web Site]
* [http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu/cdm/ref/collection/tx-annl/id/20273 1933 Baylor University "Roundup" via the Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections]

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William P. Hobby]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Texas]]|years=[[1920 Texas gubernatorial election|1920]], [[1922 Texas gubernatorial election|1922]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Miriam A. Ferguson]]}}
{{succession box 
| before=[[W.W. Hamilton]] 
| title=President of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]
| years=1944–1946
| after=[[Louie D. Newton]]}}

{{s-par|us-tx-hs}}
{{TXHouseSuccession box
| district = 66
| hometown = Waco
| before=[[James Sluder]]
| after=[[Edward English (politician)|Edward English]]
| years=1899–1903
}}
{{TXHouseSuccession box
| district = 68
| hometown = Waco
| before=[[John Hemphill (20th century Texas politician)|John Hemphill]]
| after=[[George W. Barcus]]
| years=1903–1905
}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box
| title=[[List of Speakers of the Texas House of Representatives|Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives]]
| before=[[Robert E. Prince]]
| after=[[Francis William Seabury]]
| years=1903–1905
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[List of Governors of Texas|Governor of Texas]]
| before=[[William P. Hobby]]
| after=[[Miriam A. Ferguson]]
| years=January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925
}}
{{succession box
|title=[[Texas Railroad Commission]]er
|before=[[Clarence Gilmore]]
|after=[[Ernest O. Thompson]]
|years=1929–1932}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Texas}}
{{TXSpeakers}}
{{Railroad Commissioners of Texas}}
{{Baylor University presidents}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neff, Pat Morris}}
[[Category:1871 births]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)]]
[[Category:People from Waco, Texas]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Railroad Commission of Texas]]
[[Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Presidents of Baylor University]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist Convention presidents]]
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of Texas]]
[[Category:People from McGregor, Texas]]
[[Category:Temperance activists from Texas]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the Texas Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Texas Legislature]]