Pat Morris Neff (November 26, 1871 – January 20, 1952) was an American politician and educator who served as the 28th Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925 and subsequently as the President of Baylor University from 1932 to 1947.
Born in Coryell County, Texas, Neff earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University in 1894 and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1897. He practiced law in Waco and served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1899 to 1905, including two terms as Speaker of the House (1903–1905). He later served as a prosecuting attorney for the 54th Judicial District.
Elected governor in 1920 and re-elected in 1922, Neff's administration focused on fiscal conservatism, water conservation, and the establishment of the Texas State Parks Board. He is noted for granting a pardon to folk singer Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) in 1925, influenced by a song the prisoner wrote appealing for his release.
After leaving the governorship, Neff served on the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. In 1932, he accepted the presidency of Baylor University, his alma mater, which was facing significant financial debt. During his 15-year tenure, he stabilized the university's finances, oversaw the expansion of the physical campus, and guided the institution through the World War II era. He retired in 1947 and was named President Emeritus. Neff died in Waco, Texas, in 1952.
