Oveta Culp Hobby | |
|---|---|
 Hobby while director of the Women's Army Corps, c. 1942 | |
| 1st United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare | |
| In office April 11, 1953 – July 31, 1955 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Herself (Federal Security Agency Administrator) |
| Succeeded by | Marion B. Folsom |
| Administrator of the Federal Security Agency | |
| In office January 20, 1953 – April 11, 1953 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Oscar Ewing |
| Succeeded by | Herself (Health, Education and Welfare Secretary) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Oveta Culp January 19, 1905 Killeen, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 16, 1995 (aged 90) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (after 1953) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1953) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including William Jr. |
| Education | Mary Hardin Baylor College South Texas College of Law University of Texas at Austin |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (later the Women's Army Corps) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Army Distinguished Service Medal |
Oveta Culp Hobby (January 19, 1905 – August 16, 1995) was an American government official and businesswoman who served as the first United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1953 to 1955. A member of the Republican Party, Hobby was the second woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet.
She also served as the first director of the Women's Army Corps from 1942 to 1945, and was sequentially editor, publisher and chair of the board of the Houston Post. She entered public service when President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her administrator of the Federal Security Agency, soon after reorganized as a federal executive department, known then as Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; and Hobby became its first head.