Edgar E. Witt
Encyclopedia
Edgar E. Witt was a Texas lawyer and politician, serving as Lieutenant Governor for one term in the 1930s. He also served twice as Chairman of the American-Mexican Claims Commission
and Chief Commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission
.
to James Monroe and Elizabeth (Simpson) Witt. He attended public schools in Eddy. He attended the University of Texas at Austin
, joining the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity along with his boyhood friend Tom T. Connally. He graduated in 1900 and graduated from the University of Texas Law School with an LL.B. in 1903. He married Gwynne Johnstone on June 6, 1904. They had no children.
in 1906 and later practiced with his brother, Charles F. Witt, beginning in 1912. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
in 1914. In 1918, he was commissioned a Captain in the United States Army
and was sent to Paris, France.
. In absentia, his name was entered as a candidate in the special election, and he won. He served in the Texas Senate until 1930.
Witt was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas
twice, in 1930 and 1932. He served under Governors Ross S. Sterling
and Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson
, although Texas Lieutenant Governors do not run as a ticket with the Governor. He ran for Governor in 1934, but lost the Democratic Primary to James V. Allred.
appointed him chairman of the special Mexican Claims Commission. He served until 1938 and was appointed Chairman again in 1943. He held the post until 1947. President Harry S. Truman
appointed him chief commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission, and Witt served as Chair of that Commission until his retirement in June 1960.
Witt remained an active member of the Democratic party throughout his life.
on July 11, 1965, and was buried in the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery
in Waco.
American-Mexican Claims Commission
The American-Mexican Claims Commission, officially known as the General Claims Commission was a commission set up by treaty that adjudicated claims by citizens of the United States and Mexico for losses suffered due to the acts of one government against nationals of the other...
and Chief Commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission
Indian claims commission
The Indian Claims Commission was a judicial panel for relations between the United States Federal Government and Native American tribes. It was established in 1946 by the United States Congress to hear claims of Indian tribes against the United States...
.
Early life
Witt was born on January 28, 1876, in Bell County, TexasBell County, Texas
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Bell County was founded in 1850. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2000, the county's population was 237,974; in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that its population had reached...
to James Monroe and Elizabeth (Simpson) Witt. He attended public schools in Eddy. He attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, joining the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity along with his boyhood friend Tom T. Connally. He graduated in 1900 and graduated from the University of Texas Law School with an LL.B. in 1903. He married Gwynne Johnstone on June 6, 1904. They had no children.
Legal career and military service
Witt joined a law firm in WacoWaco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
in 1906 and later practiced with his brother, Charles F. Witt, beginning in 1912. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
in 1914. In 1918, he was commissioned a Captain in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was sent to Paris, France.
Political career
While Witt was abroad, a vacancy occurred in his home district, Texas Senate, District 11Texas Senate, District 11
District 11 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves portions of Brazoria, Galveston and Harris counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The current Senator from District 11 is Mike Jackson.-2004:-2002:-1998:...
. In absentia, his name was entered as a candidate in the special election, and he won. He served in the Texas Senate until 1930.
Witt was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas, a state in the U.S. It is the second most powerful post in Texas government because its occupant controls the work of the Texas Senate and controls the budgeting process as a leader of the...
twice, in 1930 and 1932. He served under Governors Ross S. Sterling
Ross S. Sterling
Ross Shaw Sterling was a U.S. political figure who was the 31st Governor of Texas, having served a single two-year term between January 20, 1931, and January 17, 1933....
and Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson
Miriam A. Ferguson
Miriam Amanda Wallace "Ma" Ferguson was the first female Governor of Texas in 1925. She held office until 1927, later winning another term in 1933 and serving until 1935.-Early life:...
, although Texas Lieutenant Governors do not run as a ticket with the Governor. He ran for Governor in 1934, but lost the Democratic Primary to James V. Allred.
Chairman of the Mexican Claims Commission
He then resumed the practice of law in Waco. In 1935, President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
appointed him chairman of the special Mexican Claims Commission. He served until 1938 and was appointed Chairman again in 1943. He held the post until 1947. President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
appointed him chief commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission, and Witt served as Chair of that Commission until his retirement in June 1960.
Witt remained an active member of the Democratic party throughout his life.
Death
Witt died in AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
on July 11, 1965, and was buried in the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery
Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas)
Oakwood Cemetery is a cemetery in Waco, Texas, in which three governors of Texas are buried.-History:Founded in 1878, to relieve crowded conditions at Waco's main, First Street Cemetery, the cemetery was built on the site of an abandoned horse racing track....
in Waco.