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==Background==

==Background==

Formby was born in the same house as his father, Marshall Formby, Sr. (1877–1957),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32028450|title=Marshall C. Formby|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 18, 2019}}</ref> a [[farmer]] and school board member in the Bethel community near [[rural]] Como in Hopkins County in East Texas.  His mother was the former Rosa Mae Freeman (1882–1971).<ref name=plainview>{{cite web|url= http://www.centennialcircleofhonorplainviewtexas.com/13.html|title=Marshall Formby|publisher=centennialcircleofhonorplainviewexas.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>​

Formby was born in the same house as his father, Marshall Formby, Sr. (1877–1957),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32028450|title=Marshall C. Formby|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=November 18, 2019}}</ref> a [[farmer]] and school board member in the Bethel community near [[rural]] Como in Hopkins County in East Texas.  His mother was the former Rosa Mae Freeman (1882–1971).<ref name=plainview>{{cite web|url= http://www.centennialcircleofhonorplainviewtexas.com/13.html|title=Marshall Formby|publisher=centennialcircleofhonorplainviewexas.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>​

 

When Marshall was five years of age, the family relocated to McAdoo in Dickens County in West Texas. As a child, he was nicknamed "Potts" because he frequently played in an iron wash pot. Young Formby attended public schools in McAdoo through his junior year of high school. In 1928, he received his diploma from Spur High School, also in Dickens County.<ref name=plaque>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txdicken/markers/marshall_formby.html|title=Marshall Formby Historical Plaque Dedication|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>​

When Marshall was five years of age, the family relocated to McAdoo in Dickens County in West Texas. As a child, he was nicknamed "Potts" because he frequently played in an iron wash pot. Young Formby attended public schools in McAdoo through his junior year of high school. In 1928, he received his diploma from Spur High School, also in Dickens County.<ref name=plaque>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txdicken/markers/marshall_formby.html|title=Marshall Formby Historical Plaque Dedication|publisher=rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>

 

In 1932, Formby received a Bachelor of Arts in [[government]] from Texas Tech. While in college, he worked as a regional correspondent for several newspapers and was a student editor of ''The Daily Toreador.'' After college, he briefly owned and operated a drug store in McAdoo. In 1936, he worked briefly as a police reporter for ''The Miami Tribune'' in [[Miami]], [[Florida]].<ref name=plaque/>​

In 1932, Formby received a Bachelor of Arts in [[government]] from Texas Tech. While in college, he worked as a regional correspondent for several newspapers and was a student editor of ''The Daily Toreador.'' After college, he briefly owned and operated a drug store in McAdoo. In 1936, he worked briefly as a police reporter for ''The Miami Tribune'' in [[Miami]], [[Florida]].<ref name=plaque/>​

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==Political career==​

==Political life==

 

Returning to McAdoo specifically to run for office, he became at twenty-five the youngest county judge in Texas.<ref name=plaque/> He worked to reduce [[property tax]]es and brought Dickens County on a cash basis for the first time in some fifteen years. During his last year as county judge, Formby was president of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association.<ref name=plaque/>"He loved people and politics. He was for the little guy," said nephew and business partner [[Clint Formby]].​

Returning to McAdoo specifically to run for office, he became at twenty-five the youngest county judge in Texas.<ref name=plaque/> He worked to reduce [[property tax]]es and brought Dickens County on a cash basis for the first time in some fifteen years. During his last year as county judge, Formby was president of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association.<ref name=plaque/>"He loved people and politics. He was for the little guy," said nephew and business partner [[Clint Formby]].​

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==Death and legacy==​

==Death and legacy==​

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Formby died in Plainview, his principal city of residence since 1947.<ref name=formby/> He was a [[deacon]] of the First [[Baptist]] Church there, a member of the advisory council of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas, and served on the public relations board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was active in Rotary International and the Masonic lodge. He was the president of the Texas Tech Ex-Students Association. While serving on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Formby made the  recommendation to rename "Texas Technological College" as Texas Tech University.<ref name=room>{{cite web|url= http://www.avalanchejournal.com/news/040197/marshall.htm|title=Ray Westbrook, "Marshall Formby Room to be dedicated today at new library"|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=March 31, 1997|accessdate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>​

Formby died in Plainview, his principal city of residence since 1947.<ref name=formby/> He was a [[deacon]] of the First [[Baptist]] Church there, a member of the advisory council of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas, and served on the public relations board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was active in Rotary International and the Masonic lodge. He was the president of the Texas Tech Ex-Students Association. While serving on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Formby made the  recommendation to rename "Texas Technological College" as Texas Tech University.<ref name=room>{{cite web|url= http://www.avalanchejournal.com/news/040197/marshall.htm|author=Ray Westbrook|title=Marshall Formby Room to be dedicated today at new librarypublisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=March 31, 1997|accessdate=December 29, 2009}}</ref>

 

The Marshall Formby State Jail in Plainview is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawyertexasparole.com/freeadvice/prisonnames.htm|title=Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prison Names and Phone Numbers|publisher=lawyertexasparole.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> Under a state Senate bill introduced by Formby's nephew Robert Duncan, Interstate 27 between its intersection with United States Highway 84 in Lubbock and its intersection with Interstate Highway 40 in Amarillo, was in 2005 named the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/TN/6/B/225/B/225.060|title=Marshall Formby Memorial Highway|publisher=codes.lp.findlaw.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> There is also a Marshall Formby Foundation in Plainview.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/showVals.php?ft=bmf&ein=752156614|title=National Center for Charitable Statistics|publisher=nccsdataweb.urban.org|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> In 1997, the auditorium at the Southwest Collection/Special Collections at Texas Tech, where Formby's papers are housed, was named in his honor.<ref name=room/> In 2005, Formby was posthumously inducted into the Texas Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enewsbuilder.net/texasbroadcasters/e_000172378000066839.cfm?x=b11,0,w|title=Texas Association of Broadcasters Bulletin|publisher=enewsbuilder.net|accessdate=December 20, 2009}}</ref>​

The Marshall Formby State Jail in Plainview is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawyertexasparole.com/freeadvice/prisonnames.htm|title=Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prison Names and Phone Numbers|publisher=lawyertexasparole.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> Under a state Senate bill introduced in 2005 by Formby's nephew Robert Duncan, that portion of Interstate 27 between its intersection with U.S. Highway 84 in Lubbock and its connection with Interstate Highway 40 in Amarillo, was named the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/TN/6/B/225/B/225.060|title=Marshall Formby Memorial Highway|publisher=codes.lp.findlaw.com|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> There is also a Marshall Formby Foundation in Plainview.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/showVals.php?ft=bmf&ein=752156614|title=National Center for Charitable Statistics|publisher=nccsdataweb.urban.org|accessdate=December 18, 2009}}</ref> In 1997, the auditorium at the Southwest Collection/Special Collections at Texas Tech, where Formby's papers are housed, was named in his honor.<ref name=room/> In 2005, Formby was posthumously inducted into the Texas Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enewsbuilder.net/texasbroadcasters/e_000172378000066839.cfm?x=b11,0,w|title=Texas Association of Broadcasters Bulletin|publisher=enewsbuilder.net|accessdate=December 20, 2009}}</ref>

 

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The historical plaque at Formby's grave in McAdoo says that he "exemplifies the hard working, never say quit character of West Texans whom he so vividly portrayed in . . . ''These Are My People'' (1962). . . in politics, in business, and in community affairs. Formby represented the small town, rural character of [[Great Depression|Depression]]-era Texas west of the 100th meridian, a place where it seldom rained, the wind always seemed to blow, and settlers met obstacles head on with a gritty spirit and a will to succeed."<ref name=plaque/>​

The historical plaque at Formby's grave in McAdoo says that he "exemplifies the hard working, never say quit character of West Texans whom he so vividly portrayed in . . . ''These Are My People'' (1962). . . in politics, in business, and in community affairs. Formby represented the small town, rural character of [[Great Depression|Depression]]-era Texas west of the 100th meridian, a place where it seldom rained, the wind always seemed to blow, and settlers met obstacles head on with a gritty spirit and a will to succeed."<ref name=plaque/>​

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==References==​

==References==

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