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William Lewis Moody Jr.

William Lewis Moody Jr.
Born William Lewis Moody Jr.
(1865-01-25)January 25, 1865
Fairfield, Texas, USA
Died July 21, 1954(1954-07-21) (aged 89)
Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Resting place Galveston, Texas, U.S.
29°16′52″N 94°49′33″W / 29.28111°N 94.82583°W / 29.28111; -94.82583
Citizenship United States
Education Virginia Military Institute
Alma mater University of Texas at Austin
Occupation Insurance and banking executive
Years active 1886–1954
Known for Financial and philanthropic endeavors
Predecessor William Lewis Moody, Sr.
Successor Mary Moody Northen
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Libbie Shearn Rice Moody
Children William Lewis Moody, III
Shearn Moody Sr.
Mary Moody Northen
Libbie Moody Thompson
Parent(s) Pherabe Elizabeth (Bradley)
William Lewis Moody, Sr.
Relatives Shearn Moody, Jr. (Grandson)

William Lewis Moody Jr. (January 25, 1865 – July 21, 1954) was an American financier and entrepreneur from Galveston, Texas, who founded a private bank, an insurance company, and one of the largest charitable foundations in the United States. Moody was active in the day-to-day operations of his companies until two days before his death.

Moody’s parents were Col. William Lewis Moody and Pherabe Elizabeth Moody, née Bradley. Moody was born on January 25, 1865 in Fairfield, Texas. After attending boarding schools in Virginia, he attended Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Following that, he studied law at the University of Texas before going to work at his father's cotton business in Galveston in 1886.

On August 26, 1890, Moody married Libbie Rice Shearn. They had four children:Mary Elizabeth (who married Edwin Clyde Northen), William Lewis III, Shearn, and Libbie (who married Clark W. Thompson). Their family home, "The Moody Mansion", is now a museum. Mary later took over many of the family businesses after Moody's death.

In 1889, Moody set up the private bank W. L. Moody and Company,. In 1905, he founded American National Insurance Company, which, at the time of Moody's death, was the biggest one west of the Mississippi River.

In 1907, Moody founded City National Bank. He served as President of the bank until he died. In 1953, the bank’s name was changed to Moody National Bank in his honor.

Moody's business interests also included ventures outside of the financial arena. In 1923 Moody purchased the Galveston Daily News, the oldest newspaper in Texas, from Alfred H. Belo. He later expanded his media interests by acquiring the Galveston Tribune.


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