Ross Shaw Sterling (February 11, 1875 – March 25, 1949) was an American politician who served as the31st governor of Texas from 1931 to 1933.

Ross S. Sterling
31stGovernor of Texas
In office January 20, 1931 – January 17, 1933
Lieutenant	Edgar E. Witt
Preceded by	Dan Moody
Succeeded by	Miriam A. Ferguson
Personal details
Born	Ross Shaw Sterling (1875-02-11)February 11, 1875 Anahuac, Texas, U.S.
Died	March 25, 1949(1949-03-25) (aged 74) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Resting place	Glenwood Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Maud Abbie Gage ​ (m. 1898)​

Sterling was born inAnahuac inChambers County nearHouston, Texas. He grew up on a farm and, after little formal education, began working as a clerk at the age of 12.^[2]

At the age of 21, Sterling launched his own merchandising business. In 1911, his brotherFrank Sterling, other oilmen, and he formed theHumble Oil Company, a predecessor of present-dayExxon-Mobil.^[2] They were joined in the venture by their sister,Florence M. Sterling.^[3] Sterling and his brother Frank and his sister, Florence, were referred to as the "Trio".^[4]

In addition to theoil industry, Sterling was involved in a railroad company, the formerHouston Post newspaper, banking, andreal estate in the Houston area. He was a member of the Houston Port Commission. He served as chairman of theTexas Highway Commission under his predecessor, GovernorDan Moody.^[5]

ADemocrat, Sterling defeated former GovernorMiriam "Ma" Ferguson and several other candidates in the 1930 primary race for governor. During Sterling's term in office, the East Texas oil fields experienced rapid and uncontrolled development. TheRailroad Commission of Texas attempted proration, but the courts struck down the plan. Because of the chaotic situation, Sterling declaredmartial law in four counties for six months.National Guard troops were sent to the oil fields to limit waste and control production. This action was later declared unwarranted by the federal district court^[6] and theU.S. Supreme Court,^[7] and the Railroad Commission's plan for proration was accepted. Cotton prices continued to decline during Sterling's term in office.^[5]

Sterling's loss in the 1932 primary was the closest primary defeat for an incumbent governor in United States history.^[8]

He wed Maud Abbie Gage on October 10, 1898.^[2]

Sterling died in Fort Worth on March 25, 1949, and is buried atGlenwood Cemetery in Houston.^[9]

Three Texas schools are named after him,Sterling High School inBaytown,Sterling High School inHouston, andRoss Sterling Middle School inHumble, Texas. In addition, his grand-nephew,Ross N. Sterling, aRepublican, became aUnited States federal judge in Texas under appointment ofU.S. PresidentGerald R. Ford Jr.^[10]

In 1925, Sterling's daughter Mildred married the prominent architectWyatt C. Hedrick of Fort Worth.

Sterling's former house, built about 1910, was moved in 1999 from 106Westheimer Road to the intersection of Bagby and Rosalie to undergo restoration.^[11] In 2015 it opened as a bar & restaurant called Sterling House^[12]

• Sterling, Ross S.; Kilman, Ed (2007).Ross Sterling, Texan: A Memoir by the Founder of Humble Oil and Refining Company. Austin: Univ. of Texas Press.ISBN 978-0-292-71442-7.

• Ross Shaw Sterling from theHandbook of Texas Online
• http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/40032/tsl-40032.html