Edgar E. Witt (January 28, 1876 – July 11, 1965) was a Texas lawyer and politician, serving as lieutenant governor for two terms in the 1930s. He also served twice as chairman of the

American-Mexican Claims Commission The American-Mexican Claims Commission, officially known as the General Claims Commission (Mexico and United States,) was a commission set up by treaty that adjudicated claims by citizens of the United States and Mexico for losses suffered due to th ...

and chief commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission.

Early life

Witt was born on January 28, 1876, in Bell County, Texas 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 Phi Delta Theta (), commonly known as Phi Delt, is an international secret and social fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, along with Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. T ...

along with his boyhood friend

Tom T. Connally Thomas Terry Connally (August 19, 1877October 28, 1963) was an American politician, who represented Texas in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, as a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representa ...

. 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 Waco 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.

Political career

While Witt was abroad, a vacancy occurred in his home district, Texas Senate, District 11. 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 Ross Shaw Sterling (February 11, 1875March 25, 1949) was an American politician who was the 31st Governor of Texas, serving a single two-year term from January 20, 1931, to January 17, 1933. Early years Sterling was born in Anahuac in Chambers ...

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 James Burr V AllredThe "V" was a name, not an initial. (March 29, 1899 – September 24, 1959) was the 33rd governor of Texas. He later served, twice, as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern Distri ...

Chairman of the Mexican Claims Commission

He then resumed the practice of law in Waco. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt 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 (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

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

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

on July 11, 1965, and was buried in the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery in Waco.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witt, Edgar E. 1876 births 1965 deaths Burials at Oakwood Cemetery (Waco, Texas) People from Bell County, Texas United States Army personnel of World War I Lieutenant Governors of Texas Politicians from Waco, Texas Democratic Party Texas state senators United States Army officers Military personnel from Texas