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The Center tor Public Historv at the Universitv of Houston or more than twenty years, the Center for FPublic History at the University of Houston has trained students to apply the skills of the professional historian outside the university Our former students work throughout the region in jobs in government, business, historical societies, preservation groups, archives, libraries, professional asso­ ciations, and public interest groups. Under the direction of Martin Melosi and with the input of other faculty members, students at the Center have produced an array of studies of various aspects of Houston'.s history Much of what we know about our city's past has been a result of the Center's work. At the heart of the Center is the Houston History Project, which contains a number of projects ranging from a study of slavery in Texas to a soon to be published volume of essays on the environmental his­ tory of Houston. Current initiatives of the Center include the publication of The Houston Review of History and Culture, the organization of a comprehensive project on the oral history of Houston, and the expan­ sion of efforts to identify historical records for inclusion in archives. For more information about the Center for Public History, contact Martin Melosi at [email protected] or visit the website at www.class.uh.edu/publichistory This issue is dedicated to the memory of J.H. Freeman (1916-2004), a friend who loved Houston and its history. 2 SF AND MANY MORE: Business and Civic Leadership in Modern Houston Joseph A. Pratt OF HISTORY AND CUlTURE For a half century beginning in the 1920s, George R. and H erman Brown rented suite SF at the Lamar Hotel in downtown Houston. The phrase "the SF VOlUME 1. NUMBER 2 crowd," which referred to the Brown brothers and others who frequented the suite, became shorthand for the small business elite that dominated H ouston's political EDITORIAL STAFF and civic affairs. This article places the SF crowd in historical perspective by compar­ Joseph A. Pratt ing their power to that of business leaders who came before and after them. Editor Jenna Berger Managing Editor Christine Womack Carter Wesley and the Making of Business Manager Houston's Civic Culture Katherine Pratt Ami/car Shabazz Copy Editor Houston lawyer/newspaperman Carter Wesley became one of the Cliff Gillock most prominent black businessmen in the Jim Crow South. Through Designer his newspaper, the Houston Informer, he asserted a strong voice against segregation. At times, he crossed swords with national and ErnmRIAL BoARD local officials of the NAACP over strategy and tactics, but he never wavered in his quest Audrey Crawford for justice and equality for the black population of Houston. Barbara Eaves Steven Fenberg Cliff Gillock Will Howard Harold Hyman f 4 Jesse Jones: A Conversation about "Mr. Houston" William Kellar Louis Marchiafava Steven Fenberg discusses his work in overseeing the making of the Martin Melosi award-winning documentary about the career of Jesse Jones. Fenberg Mary Schiflett offers insights into Jones' emergence as "Mr. Houston," as well as his Cary Wintz distinguished career as head of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Department of Commerce in the New Deal. ErnmRIAL Pou CY The Houston Review of History and Culture is published twice a year by the Center for Public History at the University of Houston. We we lcome manuscripts, interviews, and photographic essays 2 f Parley of Prominence: The Houston Democratic on the history and culture of the H ouston region, National Convention of 192S broadly defined. All correspondence should be Jon L. Gillum sent to The Houston Review, University of Houston, Department of History, 524 Agnes By hosting the Democratic National Convention in 192S, Houston Arnold Hall, Houston, TX 77204-3003 announced its arrival as a young city on the move. In describing the (713-743-3088 or 713-743-3087). The web events surrounding the convention, this article shows how site is www.class.uh.edu/TheHoustonReview. We Houstonians took advantage of their moment in the national spotlight. also welcome ideas for topical issues; these can be sent to the above address or to [email protected]. Subscriptions are $10 per year for students, $1 5 per year for individuals, and $25 per year for institutions. Single issues and back issues are 24 In the Name of Decency and Progress: The available for $ 10. Response of Houston's Civic Leaders to the Lynching of Robert Powell in l 92S ©2004 by the Center for Public History. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this issue or any Dwight Watson i portion of it is expressly prohibited without writ­ ten permission of the publisher. The Center for On the eve of the 192S Democratic National Convention, Public History disclaims responsibility for state­ Houston experienced one of the only lynchings in its modern history. ments of fact and opinions of contributors. In response, the city's white civic leaders sought to limit the damage to the city's repu­ tation by moving quickly to arrest those involved in the lynching. This article com­ POSTMASTER: Send address changes to I I University of Houston, Center for Public History, pares the reactions of the city's black and white press while also noting the responses 5 24 Agnes Arnold Hall, Houston, TX of the national press. I 77204-3003 ..I Business and Civic Leadership in Modern Houston by Joseph Pratt* In January 2001, Ken Lay was the poster the giant Houston-based construction boy for civic leadership in Houston. He firm Brown & Root) rented and used as a had built Enron into a leading company meeting place for a wide variety of like­ in a dynamic industry, bringing thou­ minded Houstonians in the boom decades sands of jobs to the city. He had helped after World War II. The New York Times' keep major league baseball in Houston by attitude toward the "city building" activi­ pushing through a new downtown stadi­ ties of this "8F Club" is captured in its use um aptly named Enron Field. He, his of a quote from Texas Monthly magazine: company, and his foundation led the "Maybe it's a classic Texas story to push league in corporate giving. He enjoyed things to the limit."2 easy access to political figures at all levels Or maybe not. "Especially blurry" of government, and rumors flew in 2000 lines dividing politics and business are of a cabinet office in the new Bush hardly unique to Houston. By acquiring administration or a run for mayor in economic power and wealth, businessmen Houston. Only a year later, Enron Jay in in all capitalist societies often become first ruins. Bad jokes about "Chapter 11 Field" among equals in civic and political affairs. tr1ade the rounds. His harshest critics Other less powerful citizens in Houston asked just whose money Lay had been and other American cities have never giving away to charities. Politicians asl<ed quite lmown what to make of the influen­ "Ken who?" as they dodged media ques­ tial businessmen who have played such a tions about political influence. prominent role in shaping our society. In Such critici~tr1 took on an especially good times, we react to their power with hard edge because Lay had become "Mr. admiration tinged with envy; in bad times, Houston" at the turn of the twenty-first with skepticism tinged with anger. But at century, the latest in a line of powerful all times, we have looked to them to push business/civic leaders who shaped the city's our cities and our nation forward. modern development. The New Ybrk Times First and foremost, we have wanted ran a profile of his local influence under them to create jobs. This has been partic­ the headline, "In Houston, the Lines ularly importantin Houston. Not many Dividing Politics, Business and Society of us came here in search of beautiful Are Especially Blurry." The article noted scenery or a mild climate; we came seek­ that Lay "was only the city's latest king­ ing jobs for ourselves and expanded maker. A generation before, the leadership opportunities for our children. Once had been a clos(),.knit gz:oup of financiers business leaders have delivered jobs, we The Lamar Hotel was home. of suite 8Fwhere and businessme!l kno~!lks the 8F Club.m also have expected then{ to help build the Houston~ business and civic elite frequently gathered. This reference was to suite 8F of the cmltural instituti~ns (including higher Lamar .•Hotel in.downtown Houston, ~ducation) common in a mature metrop­ which Herman and George R. Brown (of olis. Most of us have not been surprised Professor of History and Business at the University Houston and the editor of Review. He has written and taught about the history of the oil industry and the history of Houston. 2 when business leaders have taken an lot. I thus faced a historian's dilemma. I War I. During these ye ars, Houston grew active and self-interested role in politics, had the key to all power and influence in from a raw, rowdy town of less than but we have expected the best among Houston, but the lock in which it fit, the 20,000 to a small, but bustling city of them to have a vision of the needs of the door opened by the loci<, the suite, and the about 130,000. When Captain Balwr city that extends beyond their immediate entire building no longer existed. What and his father, Judge Bal<er, arrived in personal and corporate interests. follows is my effort to reconstruct suite H ouston in the 1S70s, the city was about After more than twenty years of SF, placing the Brown's generation back one tenth the size of New Orleans, which studying the history of business/civic lead­ into the world they inhabited.

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