Fiercely Loyal Bobcats
Fiercely Loyal Bobcats
For Bill and Loma Hobson, supporting the university means endowing scholarships
As lifetime members of the Texas State Alumni Association, it seems like William “Bill” Hobson (B.S. ’64) and Loma Chance Hobson (B.A. ’64) have always been Bobcats and steadfast supporters of the university.
Their generosity has given many students the opportunity to become Bobcats. In 1998, they established the William and Loma Hobson Endowed Scholarship at Texas State for high school students from Edna, Bill’s hometown.
In the 1960s, Bill was a member of Pi Sigma Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternities, a Strutters manager, junior class president, senior class president, and a student senator for Student Government. Loma was among the first class of Strutters and a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
They graduated from Texas State in January 1964 and married six weeks later. They both began careers as teachers, but after four years Bill’s interest turned to investments. One investment company would give him a job only on the condition that he get some military experience. Bill joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and trained as a cook while continuing to work with PaineWebber. He would eventually retire as a senior vice present of USB Wealth Management USA.
It was the country life that captured their hearts and their weekends. They began ranching and farming in 1991. Following Bill’s retirement in 2006, it became their full-time occupation with their move to Cat Spring, west of Houston.
Since 2004, 11 students from Edna — population 5,499 — have graduated from Texas State thanks to the Hobson scholarship. In their letters of thanks to the Hobsons the students share their goals and hopes. “With this degree I plan on expanding my dad’s business and being a manager of the company. This scholarship will help me with college expenses and will keep me motivated to keep my grade point average up,” writes Shelby Sparks (B.A. ’18).
In 2013, Courtney Bauman (B.S. ’17) wrote: “Texas State was always the college I wanted to attend. It was the school my father had wanted to attend, but sadly he ran into financial problems and could not go. I plan on getting all my basics out of the way and exploring the many great degree plans that Texas State has to offer.”
Lori Ann Nidey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 2017, wrote: “Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. Once I achieve my lifetime goal of becoming a speech pathologist, I hope I am able to help people of all ages achieve their goals, just as you have helped me.”
In March, the Hobsons established an estate gift to the university that will fund new scholarships for agricultural studies, graduates of nearby Sealy High School, and a fellowship matching fund to support graduate researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“We learned that philanthropy can leverage others to give and accomplish much more than we can alone,” Bill says. Their latest project is leading the charge to establish a culinary program to enhance vocational skills at Sealy High School. “Everyone has to eat and there is a huge need for talented workers. It’s funny how my stint in the reserves brings me full circle.” ✪