The Story of Mrs. Hobby
Here at R. Riveter, we take inspiration from the bold + courageous women who came before us. This is why all of our American Handmade handbags are named after powerful Military Spouses who made a positive impact on the world.
Meet Mrs. Hobby
Oveta Culp Hobby
Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby, wife of former Texas Governor William P. Hobby, went down in the history books as having nearly achieved the impossible during her lifetime.
A graduate of the University of Texas Law School, Mrs. Hobby began her political career by serving as parliamentarian of the Texas House of Representatives and the assistant to the city attorney of Houston. However, Mrs. Hobby was an avid writer at heart, and eventually went to work for the Houston Post-Dispatch with the mission of introducing features for women. Her mission was soon achieved and, in a time when women working as executives was almost unheard of, Mrs. Hobby landed the executive vice president chair of the newspaper.
Mrs. Hobby went on to publish books on parliamentary law, serve as the Chief of the Women's Division of the Bureau of Public Relations in the War Department and was a founder of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. She was appointmed director of the WAC and eventually was promoted to a Colonel of the United States Military. She directed the corps, which had grown to a force of 100,000 women, through WWII.
After resigning her comission and returning to the newspaper as publisher, Mrs. hobby worked in radio and television and played an active role in the election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. You would think Mrs. Hobby would have retired there, but she wasn't done yet. She continued on to become the director of the Federal Security Administration (FSA) and the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Mrs. Hobby was the second woman in history to ever hold a U.S. Cabinet position.
To Mrs. Hobby + all of the other Veterans who worked so selflessly to make our country a better place, we at R. Riveter salute you today and all days.
Thank you