Oscar F. Holcombe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oscar Fitzallen Holcombe (December 31, 1888–June 18, 1968) served as the mayor of Houston, Texas for 22 years, in 11 non-consecutive terms.

Holcombe was born in Mobile, Alabama and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He moved to Houston when he was 18, and founded his own construction business, the O. F. Holcombe Company, at age 26. His business acumen and contacts eventually made Holcombe a millionaire.

Six years after founding his business, in 1921, Holcombe won his first term as mayor. He would serve as mayor from 1921 to 1929, 1933 to 1937, 1939 to 1941, 1947 to 1953, and 1956 to 1958. His administrations were considered to be conservative and pro-business, though Holcombe was also aggressive about expanding the city's boundaries and improving public services (such as libraries, a municipal auditorium, and an improved sewage system).

Holcombe married Mary Grey Miller on May 3, 1912. They had one daughter.

[edit] Honors

During the early 1960s, Houston renamed the stretch of Bellaire Boulevard east of Southside Place, which runs through the Texas Medical Center, as Holcombe Boulevard. In the late 1980s, the municipality of West University Place also renamed Bellaire Boulevard as Holcombe Boulevard within its jurisdiction.

[edit] External link

• Oscar Fitzallen Holcombe from the Handbook of Texas Online

Preceded by A. Earl Amerman	Mayor of Houston, Texas 1921–1929	Succeeded by Walter E. Monteith
Preceded by Walter E. Monteith	Mayor of Houston, Texas 1933–1937	Succeeded by R. H. Fonville
Preceded by R. H. Fonville	Mayor of Houston, Texas 1939–1941	Succeeded by Neal Pickett
Preceded by Otis Massey	Mayor of Houston, Texas 1947–1953	Succeeded by Roy Hofheinz
Preceded by Roy Hofheinz	Mayor of Houston, Texas 1956–1958	Succeeded by Lewis Cutrer