Hal E. Hoss | |
|---|---|
 Hoss, circa 1928 | |
| Oregon Secretary of State | |
| In office September 24, 1928 – February 6, 1934 | |
| Governor | I. L. Patterson A. W. Norblad Julius L. Meier |
| Preceded by | Sam A. Kozer |
| Succeeded by | Peter J. Stadelman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 7, 1892 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | February 6, 1934 (aged 41) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Myrtle Lantz |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Hal Elden Hoss (October 7, 1892 – February 6, 1934) was an American journalist and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Portland, he was raised there and edited several newspapers in Oregon before he became the private secretary for the Governor of Oregon, I. L. Patterson. A Republican, he served as Oregon Secretary of State for six years before he died in office.
Hal Hoss was born on October 7, 1892, in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised.[1] After he earned his education in that city he married Myrtle Lantz in 1914, and had four children together.[1] In 1918, he became the editor of the Banner Courier newspaper of Oregon City.[1] Hoss remained there until 1920 when began managing and editing the Enterprise paper, also in Oregon City.[1] In 1922, he was inducted into Sigma Delta Chi, an honor society for journalists.[2]
He remained in the newspaper business until 1926 at the Enterprise, and served as the president of the Oregon Press Association on several occasions.[1] Hoss was active in attempts to reform the penal system, serving on commissions to this aim.[1] He even was appointed to the state's parole board.[1] In 1927, Hoss was hired by Governor I. L. Patterson to work as his personal secretary.[1]
On September 24, 1928, Sam A. Kozer resigned from the office of Oregon Secretary of State.[3] Oregon Governor I. L. Patterson appointed the Republican Hoss on that same day to fill the remaining term of Kozer.[3] Hoss then won election to a full four-year term in 1928, and won re-election in 1932 to a second four-year term.[3] While in his first term, his office created the Operations Division and the state began to require testing to acquire a driver's license.[4] Hal Elden Hoss died in office on February 6, 1934, at the age of 41.[3]