Beauford H. Jester

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Beauford Halbert Jester (January 12, 1893–July 11, 1949) was a U.S. political figure, the son of George Taylor Jester and his second wife, Frances Gordon Jester. He served as the Governor of Texas from 1947 until 1949, when he died of a heart attack. He is the only Texas governor to have ever died in office.

Jester was born in Corsicana in 1893, and attended college at the University of Texas and studied law at Harvard before having his studies interrupted by the First World War. In 1919, he resumed his law studies at the University of Texas, whence he received his LL.B a year later. He returned to Corsicana to practice law, and was president of the Navarro County Bar Association for many years. Jester also served as director of the state bar association from 1940-1941.

For many years, Jester was a member of the University of Texas Board of Regents, and from 1933-1935 was the youngest man to ever serve as president of that body. In honor of his service, the Jester Center on the University of Texas campus was named after him in 1968. This contains Jester Dormitory, the largest residential facility on campus, housing just under 3,000 students, as well as classroom and faculty space.

In 1964, Jester Park was dedicated by the City of Corsicana in memory of Beauford Jester. The 24 acre park is home to the Lefty Frizzell Memorial and the Pioneer Village, which recreates the lives of the city's pioneers with replicas of historic buildings.