Birthplace of Governor Ross Shaw Sterling

The plaque ends with Sterling broke and undaunted; the Handbook of Texas tells the comeback more plainly. After losing his 1932 race to Miriam Ferguson he went back to Houston and stayed out of public life. Within a few years, the Handbook says, he had built a second fortune in oil as president of Sterling Oil and Refining, which he led until 1946. He also headed a flour mill company, chaired the Houston National Bank, and sat on the board overseeing the ship channel. He died in 1949 and is buried in Houston.

What the plaque says

Birthplace of Governor Ross Shaw Sterling (1875-1949) Governor of Texas 1931-33, during critical years of the Depression. Born and reared on family farm here. As a youth hoeing these fields, learned to stay ahead by taking "3 or 4 licks" while others took 2. followed this vigorous philosophy throughout life. In 1898 he married Maud Abbie Gage; had 5 children. In 1910 bought 2 wells which he developed into the Humble Oil & Refining Company in 1917. Then entered real estate development in Houston, 1925: bought the Houston "Dispatch" and "Post," forerunners of present Houston "Post." As head of Texas Highway Commission, 1927-30, achieved great reforms in roads programs. His term as governor saw forceful handling of crises of the times. He called a special session of the Legislature to deal with over-production in agriculture. Also put teeth into measures to control oil production by placing 4 counties under martial law following violations of conservation rules. When he returned to private life, his fortune had been lost. Undaunted, he launched the Sterling Oil & Refining Company and eventually was head of other major businesses. Philanthropies included gift of his La Porte estate as a boys' home, founding of boys' camp and donations to Texas Christian University. (1970)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site — 24 mi
  The 1,200 acres of coastal prairie and marsh where the Texas Revolution ended in eighteen minutes, and the 567-foot shaft of fossil-studded limestone that has stood over them since 1939.
• Space Center Houston — 28 mi
  The visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center at Clear Lake, with flown capsules, a shuttle replica riding a 747, and tram tours to Mission Control and a Saturn V.

More markers nearby

• Graydon — 1.4 mi
• Round Point — 1.8 mi
• St. Paul United Methodist Church — 3.1 mi
• Juan Davis Bradburn — 3.1 mi