Occupation Rancher Education University of Virginia Parents Robert J. Kleberg | Role King Ranch Name Robert Kleberg Uncles Louis Kleberg | |
Born 1853 Texas, USA Died 1932, Kingsville, Texas, United States | ||
Robert Justus Kleberg, Jr. (December 5, 1853 – October 10, 1932) was born to Rose and Robert J. Kleberg in Texas and attended the University of Virginia. He served as legal counsel to Richard King and his 600,000-acre (2,400 km2) King Ranch. When King died, Kleberg took over the management of the ranch in 1885. Under his tenure the ranch grew to encompass over 1,300,000 acres (5,300 km2). He also encouraged the B. F. Yoakum company of St. Louis to build a railroad in South Texas. Eventually oil was discovered under much of this cattle country. His son Richard M. Kleberg had recently been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (in 1931), which was mentioned in Time magazine issue of 17 October 1932 which reported the elder Kleberg's death.