The Governor's Stake - The Parallel Lives of Two Texas Governors: Richard Coke and Lawrence Sullivan Ross

Austin, Texas: Eakin Press, 2002. Q4 - A first edition (stated with complete numberline) hardcover book in very good condition that has tiny patch scuffed on the top spine, some scattered light scratches and rubbing, some light discoloration and shelf wear with no dust jacket. 9.25"x6.25", 244 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. In the last half of the nineteenth century, two men rose to prominence in Texas: Richard Coke and Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Beginning in Waco, their careers started to parallel when they answered the call to public service, and it is the commingling of their various roles, with their complementary strengths and weaknesses, that made permanent marks on the history of Texas. In their formative years, one was a country lawyer, the other a Texas Ranger; during the Civil War, one was a captain, the other a general, in the Confederate Army; during Reconstruction, one was a judge, the other a sheriff and state senator. Both served as Texas governor, after which Coke went to the United States Senate and Sullivan became the first president of Texas A&M University. The two men died only months apart. This joint biography coincides with the story of Texas' coming of age. Critical issues and events, such as slavery, secession, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, threatened the state's future, as did the difficulty of building an infrastructure to ensure the well-being of its citizens. Although they are rarely considered by modern Texans, because Richard Coke and Sul Ross rose to power during this crucial time, their significant contributions have helped shape the Texas we love.. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.