Building Texas

The University of Texas has not been the only focus of the Friar Society's efforts to lend a hand in the social, moral, and intellectual uplift of that society wherein it may be its members' lot to dwell. The Society, from time to time has been blessed with motivated men and women who not only work themselves at bettering their communities and their state, but also see it fit to involve their Friar brothers and sisters in their efforts.

One of these community minded Friars is C. B. Smith, of Austin, was a leader in the economic and cultural development of the Austin community from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. Born in Rotan, TX, C. B. began his higher education at the Arlington Jr. College Branch of Texas A&M University, and then transferred to the University of Texas as a junior. As a student, C. B. played football and track and field. He was the first manager of the Little Campus Dormitory, majored in history and government, and did graduate work with Walter Prescott Webb, who became his life-long friend. In 1928, C. B. received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University. After graduation, C.B. taught and coached at Houston Jr. College, then traveled to Mexico, where he developed his life-long passion for building better relations between the United States and Latin American nations. During WWII, C. B. served on the National War Production Board, in Washington, D. C. After the war, C. B. returned to Austin, and started his highly successful Volkswagen dealership, located downtown on Lamar Ave. Between this time and his retirement, C.B. was chairman of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, president of the Austin Area Economic Development Foundation, co-founder of the Headliners Club, and board member for Brackenridge Hospital, St. Stephens School, St. Andrews School, and American National Bank. While never elected to public office, C. B. was active in the Democratic Party, and was a member of President Lyndon Johnson's President's Club. He has continued to give back to the University through numerous monetary and non monetary gifts, including books from his private collection and multiple endowed chairs in Latin American studies.

Aside from Friar Smith's personal accomplishments, he has, over the years, involved his fellow Friars in his exploits. In 1964, he initiated a program in cooperation with The University of Texas Press and the active Friars to have Friar Alumni donate books published by the UT Press on Texas heritage, history, and current trends, to their local libraries. In 1969, C. B., concerned about growing unrest on college campuses nationwide, arranged a breakfast with students and administrators at his home to discuss issues of concern, in an effort to prevent situations similar to those at Kent State, Harvard, or Cornell from happening in Austin.

In March of 1962, C. B. lent a helping hand to fellow Friar John Connally, in his successful bid for Governor. As president of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA), C. B. wrote fellow dealers across the state, encouraging them to support Friar Connally, and specifically referencing the Society as the first occasion in which he had the opportunity to meet Connally. This is just one documented example of C. B.'s passion for both the Society and the improvement of Texas.

Active Friars, too have consistently reached out to the community around them. In 1972, seeing a growing rift between University students and the Austin community, Friar, and later Bexar County District Attorney, Sam Millsap involved his fellow active Friars in a public speaking campaign among Austin civic organizations. They spoke on topics ranging from, "Why do so many young men wear hair long today?" to "What effect will the registration of 35,000 students have on Austin politics?"

Friar alumni who have achieved high office have never forgotten the call of the cloister. In the late 1970s, Friar and Governor Dolph Briscoe regularly had the active Friars over for lunch at the Governor's Mansion to discuss various topics of interest. Friar and Governor Beauford Jester, upon taking office as Governor, vacated his seat on the Texas Railroad Commission. In January 1947, he called fellow Friar Bill Murray, who recently graduated from the University, and asked him to serve in his place. Friar Murray at first refused, but soon relented, as Governor Jester recited to him the Friar admonition, and then said, "You will serve this State because you are a Friar." Murray could not refuse. Jester unexpectedly died in office in a little over a year, and Murray ran for election to the Commission, and remained in office for another sixteen years, dedicating his time to improving the State's efforts at improved recovery of wasted oil and reduced waste of natural gas through prolific "flaring", or setting excess produced gas aflame. Friar Jester made the right call.

Friar Murray began a Friar tradition in the 1960s that lasts to this day, and does well to facilitate informal contact among both Friars and State and University officials--the Friar Cocktail. Murray started the cocktails initially as a way for the (at the time) all male society to involve their wives and girlfriends, who by tradition, are not permitted to attend the Society's semester breakfasts. While many of the initial cocktails were hosted at Murray's Lake Austin home, over the years they have grown to include non-Friars as well as Friars, and are generally hosted by a Friar alumnus or group of alumni at locations across Austin the night directly before the Sunday morning Friar Breakfast. The Friar cocktails, in addition to honoring the Society's new initiates, have for the Society the additional benefit of providing an opportunity for old friends from across the State, nation, and even the world, to come back together in a "reunion" format--but it is a reunion with a purpose, to always work toward bettering the University of Texas.