Making Waco Men Better Since 1852

Orville Jobe

Orville Mack Jobe

(1908-1963)

Orville M. Jobe

Orville Jobe was born in July 6, 1908 in Bosque County. He grew up attending school in Waco, graduating from Waco High in 1928. He continued education here as he graduated from Baylor University and Baylor School of Law. He would later help to form the Baylor Law Alumni Association in 1936.

Jobe started out as a fireman, working the night shift to pay his way through Baylor, but then began his law practice in 1934 and served many roles with the Waco Bar Association. His experience as a firefighter led to him being the leading voice for bringing fire and police departments under civil service with the city in the 1930s. His reasoning was to remove favoritism and politics from the departments so that they could do their jobs better and fill their jobs with the right people. Later, he would also prove successful in getting the state law changed to allow firemen to be paid while unable to work due to injury in the line of duty and to pay veterans working as firefighters an extra bonus. Jobe was appointed secretary to the City Commission in 1936. He ran for District Attorney in 1938 and only narrowly lost the vote after basing his campaign on a promise to rid the city of rampant crime and “disreputable honky tonks.”

1938 Courthouse
Courthouse with 1938 Campaign Ads, Jobe’s is to the right of center up high

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Jobe runs for District Attorney in 1938
Jobe runs for District Attorney in 1938

In 1943, he was called to active duty as an officer with the Navy and he served in World War II for two years which was a fitting task for the man who served as Waco 92’s Worshipful Master when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred.

He served as president of the Karem Shrine Band in the late 40s, as Commander of James E. Robinson Post No. 440 of the American Legion, and in a variety of other officer positions around town. In 1950, Jobe was among the 92 representatives that led the big Methodist Home July 4 celebration that had grown to epic proportions. It was an annual watermelon party that had become so popular that Jobe and Quebe successfully got Connally Air Force Base to fly a helicopter out to the children’s home for their entertainment.

Three men on the right are PMs Earle Hooks, Orville Jobe, and William Quebe
Three men on the right are PMs Earle Hooks, Orville Jobe, and William Quebe

In 1948, Jobe unsuccessfully ran for State Senator and we are left with a particularly funny anecdote from a local newspaper:

“Orville Jobe, running for State Senator, wandered into a small store in a north eastern Mclennan town. Offered his card to the clerk and asked him to vote for him. Replied the clerk: “Anybody that wants to go to Austin is a crook.”

Orville, relating the incident, said he felt like slapping the clerk. But after leaving the store and finding a staunch supporter of his a few doors down the street, learned that he had been in conversation with the town’s half-wit.”

Later in life, Jobe used his influence to improve local highways and his son owned several businesses around town including Viking Inn.

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