Albert and Ethel Herzstein
Historical marker location:Albert H. Herzstein was born March 5, 1907, into a Jewish immigrant family in
Trinidad, Colorado. The family lived in Clayton, New Mexico, and moved to
Denver, Colorado, before Albert moved to Houston in 1925 and began working for
a small welding company. Ethel Ann Davis was born April 13, 1896, in Fulshear,
to a pioneer family. Albert and Ethel met in Houston and the pair married on
September 17, 1927.
Albert's business career began when he purchased a one-third share in a
welding company that eventually grew to become Big Three Industries. Albert
worked his way up to executive vice president and director before establishing
Herzstein Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of the Albert and Ethel Herzstein
Charitable Foundation established in 1965. Ethels family was instrumental in
starting the First United Methodist Church in Fulshear and after the couple
attained financial success, Ethel suggested in 1979 that they gift a new
sanctuary for the church in memory of their parents. After this initial gift,
Alberts appreciation of the hardships of small communities further inspired
the couple to create grants through their foundation for deserving causes
including education, religion, support services for the underprivileged and the
Arts.
The couple was married until Ethel's death on May 6th, 1983. In recognition of
his contributions, Albert, who never finished high school, received an honorary
high school diploma from St. Pius High School and a doctorate from the
University of St. Thomas. In 1993, Albert was named Philanthropist of the Year
by the Columbus Foundation of Ohio. He ran the foundation and real estate
business until he died at age 90 on March 16, 1997.
(2016).