Oscar Holcombe was an absolutely remarkable politician of Houston. He knew how to adapt to changes and rarely fell out of favor with the city’s voters. The website houston-yes.com will tell you more about the dexterous businessman who became mayor of Houston multiple times.
Troubled childhood
Oscar Fitzallen Holcombe was born on December 31, 1888, in Mobile, Alabama. He grew up in the Texas city of San Antonio, where his family moved when he was three years old. The boy received his education in public schools and became a cashier at the age of 10.
Oscar’s father died when he was 11 years old, so the boy sold newspapers to help his mother feed the family. He later worked as a shepherd in Webb County and even quit school in 1903 to do a full-time job. After reaching adulthood, the young man moved to Houston. In 1907, Holcombe worked as an assistant manager in his uncle’s company, Harrell Lumber Company. In addition, for a while, he sold goods at a company that made doors and door leaves (a movable piece of glass used in a window or door).
A smart entrepreneur
In May 1912, Holcombe married Mary Grey Miller. The couple had a daughter named Elizabeth. Three years later, 25-year-old Oscar founded the construction company O.F. Holcombe Company. The company successfully bid for contracts to build state schools in Texas. Owing to the Houstonian’s business acumen and connections in politics, he became quite rich. His business was very prosperous. When Oscar ran for mayor of Houston for the first time, he estimated his annual income at $30,000.
He also co-owned Southern Lumber Company and Southern Builders Corporation. Holcombe built residential complexes and shopping malls, owned gas stations and a turkey farm. During World War II, his construction company built huts and houses for the army and navy, as well as shipped ready-made structures to other countries. A number of important land investments made Oscar a millionaire.
In the 1950s, the entrepreneur engaged in the oil industry. He then served on the board of Trans World Airlines. Oscar was a personal partner of Howard Hughes – an American industrialist, engineer, pioneer and innovator of American aviation, director, film producer and one of the world’s richest people at that time.
Political career
In 1921, Holcombe was elected mayor of Houston and remained in this position for 22 years. But he did not serve 11 terms in a row. Overall, Holcombe led the city for four decades at different times.
Holcombe was nicknamed the “Old Gray Fox” due to his prematurely gray hair that appeared when he won his first election in 1921. During his first campaign, Oscar pledged to improve business management, reorganize city departments, create new schools and pave streets. His refusal to dismiss three Catholics from his administration in 1922 sparked opposition from the Ku Klux Klan – a racist and terrorist organization in the United States. To meet voters’ wishes, the mayor initiated a trial of 14 Baptist ministers (ten of whom were members of the Ku Klux Klan).
Holcombe was a quiet, business-oriented conservative who strongly believed in the expansion of the city beyond its geographical borders. During his early tenure, he aggressively annexed adjacent territories to Houston, which resulted in the growth of its area from less than 35 to 352 square miles. The mayor also helped widen streets, improve sewerage, upgrade the new municipal hall and a farmers’ market, as well as develop and maintain city libraries. He created new municipal offices of the city manager and public service commissioner, as well as the city planning commission. In addition, the mayor installed traffic lights and ticket machines throughout the city.
In 1932, the municipal treasury was almost empty, forcing Holcombe to lay off many city workers. Changes to the charter during that period reduced the administrative authority of the city council and strengthened the power of the mayor. Therefore, in 1942, the Citizens Charter Commission campaign was started, which replaced the strong mayor form of rule with a city manager. But this system did not last long.
During Holcombe’s tenure as mayor, the Buffalo Stadium was built and opened on the east side of downtown Houston, specifically in 1928. The first night game was held there, in 1931, between two Major League baseball teams, the Chicago White Sox and the New York Giants. The stadium was bought by Finger Furniture owner Sammy Finger, who then demolished it to build a furniture showroom and warehouse on the site.
Tribute to the memory
Holcombe died of pneumonia on June 18, 1968, and was buried in Houston. In recognition of the former mayor’s contribution to the city’s development, part of Bellaire Boulevard was renamed Holcombe Boulevard in the late 1980s.