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The 8-F Crowd
Lamar
Hotel's Suite 8-F
"Unofficial Capital of Texas"
by Bob Bowman |
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If
you visit the Heritage Society's Museum in downtown Houston,
take notice of the hotel key on display.
The key unlocked the door to
the Lamar Hotel's Suite 8-F, which played a key role in Houston
and Texas' growth and development.
Often referred to as the "unofficial
capital of Texas," Suite 8-F (two rooms and a kitchenette leased to George Brown
of Brown & Root Construction Company) was the meeting place for Houston's business
leaders from the late 1930s to the 1960s. |
| | "Lamar
Hotel -
Metropolitan Theatre -
Loew's State Theatre
Houston, Texas"
Postcard
courtesy rootsweb.com/%7Etxpstcrd/ | |
The
core of the group included Jesse H. Jones, Herman and George Brown, Gus Wortham,
James Abercrombie and James A. Elkins Sr. -- all of whom founded successful
corporations and acquired considerable wealth.
But little mention is
ever made of a small circle of East Texans who were also regarded as Suite 8-F
power brokers when it came to Texas politics.
That list included Texas
Governor Allan
Shivers of Woodville,
attorney and LBJ confidant Ed Clark of San
Augustine; Ben Ramsey, also of San
Augustine, who ran the Texas Senate with an iron hand for decades; Ottis
Lock of Lufkin, often regarded
as the key strategist for Ramsey and Shivers; and Wardlow Lane, a powerful
Senator from Center.
Houston's 8-F players were smart enough to know
they needed the help of the powerful East Texas group, so they often invited them
to join them at the Lamar, where decisions were made that shaped Texas' future
and its economic course.
The 8-F players also had connections to East
Texas beside those with the region's politicians
Jones was a lumber
entrepreneur who started his career as manager of his uncle's lumber company.
He also owned the Houston Chronicle, which was known for its legions of
East Texas newspapermen, including Clayte Binion and Morris
Frank, both of Lufkin.
Brothers Herman and George Brown built their small construction
firm, Brown and Root, into one of the world's largest construction firms. George
Brown also served as a director of Southland Paper Mills, Inc. of Lufkin.
Wortham, founder of American General Insurance Co., was a cousin
of Dick Wortham, a Southland president, and Abercrombie's Cameron Iron Works had
links with many East Texas oilfield suppliers.
Judge Elkins, a founder
of both the Vinson and Elkins law firm and the forerunner of First City Bancorporation,
served as the director of multiple banks, railroads, oil companies and insurance
firms, many of which did business in East
Texas. Elkins
Lake, near Huntsville,
owes its name to the lawyer/banker.
Frequently recognized as part of the
group were Polk County native and former Governor William P. Hobby, who
controlled The Houston Post, KPRC-TV and KPRC radio. The 8-F crowd exercised
a strong influence in Texas politics. Not only did they raise money for candidates,
but the endorsement of the 8-F crowd mean that the candidate had the general approval
of the Texas business community. Their influence extended into Washington through
their association with politicians such as John Nance Garner, Sam
Rayburn, Lyndon Johnson, and Albert
Thomas.
The 8-F power brokers are all gone today and the site
of the Lamar Hotel is a parking lot. But the tales of what transpired behind the
doors of Suite 8-F have become an integral part of Houston
and East Texas history. |
All
Things Historical
>
June 26, 2006 Column. Published with permission
(Distributed by the East
Texas Historical Association. Bob Bowman of Lufkin is a past president of the
Association and the author of more than 30 books about East Texas.)
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