The Founders (Fall 1911)
Curtice Rosser
First President of the Fourth District (North Texas) Chapter of The American College of Surgeons, 1952.
Marion J. Levy
Attorney, Galveston.
Hugh Potter
Student body president 1912-1913, past president (1931) Houston Association of Realtors, President of Hogg Enterprises River Oaks Corporation (River Oaks Country Club is the home for many years of the Houston Friars Christmas Luncheons)
He writes in Rosser:
When Curtice Rosser approached me in 1911 wit the idea of forming what was then termed a senior society at the University of Texas, I was a bit skeptical about the need for another organization. However, when Curtice turned on his powers of explanation and persuasion, I soon agreed to become a charter member. While I enjoyed the meetings in college, it was not until years later that I fully comprehended the wisdom of the formation of Friar and the significant role it could play in upgrading the University of Texas and in formulating continuing support for that institution.
With its spacious, meticulously landscaped lawns, River Oaks has long been known as the most exclusive residential area in Houston. Conveniently located just a few minutes from the downtown business district, River Oaks is the address for the elite. River Oaks was developed in the early 1920s by Will C. Hogg and his associate, Hugh Potter. The residential area measures about 1,200 acres, with home sites ranging in size from acres to small lots. The Hogg family gave an additional 1,000 acres to the city of Houston for use as a park and today Memorial Park benefits all residents of Houston. Traditional architecture prevails in River Oaks, however many different architectural styles can be found here as well. In fact, many of the homes in River Oaks were designed by nationally recognized architects of the era. One such home, "Bayou Bend," was built by Will Hogg's sister, Ima. She later donated the magnificent Greek Revival property to the Museum of Fine Arts, along with its extensive collection of early American furniture and antiques.
Another River Oaks landmark, the River Oaks Country Club, is one of Houston's most prestigious country clubs. Many of Houston's business, professional, political and social leaders make their homes in River Oaks. They provide the city with much of its civic, cultural, philanthropical and social direction. With its rich history and beauty, residents of River Oaks enjoy a comfortable, gracious lifestyle unequaled in the Houston area.
Copyright 1994
The Houston Chronicle Publishing Company
The Houston Chronicle
August 7, 1994, Sunday, 2 STAR Edition
SECTION: BUSINESS; The home front; Pg. 6 LENGTH: 455 words
HEADLINE: River Oaks still most prestigious
BYLINE: KATHERINE FESER; Staff
BODY: THE gap between the esteemed River Oaks and some other Houston neighborhoods is narrowing. ""River Oaks will always be probably the most desirable place to live,'' says Realtor John Daugherty, who sells upscale residential properties. ""I think River Oaks has more competition than it's ever had,'' Daugherty says. New construction in Tanglewood, Memorial, West University Place and Bellaire, where the lot values are lower, now competes with low- to midrange properties in River Oaks. Some of Houston's finest homes are tucked among the beautifully landscaped gardens and expansive lawns of River Oaks. River Oaks was developed by brothers Will and Mike Hogg and lawyer Hugh Potter in 1924. The mix of homes includes New England, Georgian, Spanish and French chateau style. Several homes were designed by noted architects such as John Staub and Birdsall Briscoe. High grade homes are being torn down and replaced by larger ones. ""That sort of mystique is what supports the property values in River Oaks,'' resident Deanna Murphy says. The construction includes what will be the biggest home in River Oaks, with 38,000 square feet of space. ""They look like the administration buildings for small colleges,'' Murphy says. ""They're huge Georgian cubes. '' Unusual features in some houses include indoor swimming pools, racquetball and basketball courts as well as basements and wine cellars. Home prices in River Oaks are lower than they were a decade ago. ""During the boom years, prices got way out of line,'' Daugherty says. ""It's just had to adjust a little bit. '' Prices generally start around $ 300,000 and go up into the millions. So far this year, 22 homes priced over $ 1 million have gone into the sale pending category. That compares with 12 homes in 1993. Property taxes are high. The 1993 taxes on one house that's listed for $ 5 million were $ 104,302.55.
River Oaks Property Owners provides police protection and back-door trash pick-up. ___________
Home facts Number of homes: 1,578.
Median price: $ 632,950.
Median price per square foot: $ 170.43.
Median size: square feet.3,861.
Median lot size: 12,472.
Median year built: 1940.
Average number of bedrooms: 3.81.
Average number of baths: 3.86
Median estimated tax: $ 17,494
School district: Houston Independent School District.
Schools: Will Rogers Elementary, Wilson Elementary, Lanier Middle, Lamar High.
Greater Houston at a glance
Median single-family home price: $ 84,000.
Median price, townhouse/condo: $ 56,500.
Number of properties on the market: 34,672.
Average days on the market: 102.
Total sales closed in June: 3,629.
Total dollar volume in June : $ 390,269,483.
GRAPHIC: Map: 1. Location of River Oaks subdivision; Graphs: 2. Living in River Oaks (Bar Graph); 3.Home facts (text); 4. Greater Houston at a glance (text);
1. Chronicle, 3. Source: Home prices and neighborhood facts by Sage Realty, 4. Source: Houston Association of Realtors
Lingo Platter
United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Texas (Title at the time was United States Commissioner)
The Houston Chronicle Publishing Company
The Houston Chronicle
November 7, 1992, Saturday, 2 STAR Edition
SECTION: A; Pg. 38 LENGTH: 501 words
HEADLINE: The Inns of Court withers away; Club provided fellowship for local lawyers for 25 years
BYLINE: BOB TUTT; Staff
BODY: A quarter-century ago, some of Houston's leading attorneys led a movement to form a club that would promote fellowship among members of the legal profession. Noted plaintiff's attorney James Kronzer helped spearhead the move, and when the club became a reality, he recalled the venerable Inns of Court in London, founded in 1200. It's a square near Fleet Street where lawyers lived in various inns, gossiped, studied, taught and held court. It's still London's legal center. At Kronzer's suggestion, the new club was named The Inns of Court, and it thrived for many years. But times change, and on Friday, after declining the past five years, the club disbanded. Where once there were more than 1,000 members, the rolls had fallen to a little more than 400, including inactive associates. ""Our current level of membership cannot support this Club's financial obligations,'' attorney James Garza, chairman of the board of directors, said in a letter announcing the end. Originally the club was an adjunct of the Houston Bar Association, with the same board of directors governing both organizations, Garza said. But after the club's financial problems mounted several years ago, the HBA severed its connection. The problems included losses from a club branch, The Inns of Court II, in the vicinity of the county court complex, that suffered from a lease that was both too expensive and too long, Garza said. From the ashes of that branch emerged The Courthouse Club, formed by some private attorneys, which drained away members from The Inns of Court, Garza said. There was a full house Friday when the old club, located on the 15th floor of the Texas Commerce Bank Building, served its last lunch. For many it was a melancholy occasion. H.Lingo Platter, a retired U.S. magistrate and founding member, recalled how ""We practically ruined our livers and kidneys getting this club started. '' But Inns of Court manager Christa McCauley said the club's legendary heavy drinking had steeply tapered off long ago. ""The main support came from members eating here,'' she said. Some, like state District Judge Pat Lykos, faulted the bar association for not supporting the club, comparing it to a parent that had abandoned a child. ""Here, traditions are established, legends born, gentility fostered, . . . but all that's gone,'' she said. ""People complain about (lawyers') Rambo tactics, but this is the only place we have to counter that. '' But bar association President Otway B. Downey Jr. said the interests of many attorneys had changed, and they wanted services like athletics facilities that the club didn't provide. ""It has just not been able to keep its membership,'' he said. ""Our board of directors did not think it was something we should financially obligate ourselves for. '' Garza vowed that he and others would work to revive The Inns of Court. ""It's not a question of if,'' he maintained. ""It's a question of when. ''
GRAPHIC: Photo: Judge Lee Duggan fills his plate with shrimp from a buffet line at the Inns of Court while manager Christa McCauley watches; John Everett/Chronicle
Harwood Stacy
Originally from Austin, was captain of the UT baseball team in 1911.
Luther Hoffman
1911 UT Student Body President, of Denton, who was later District Attorney in Wichita Falls.
H.B. Whaling
Nickname was Zeke"; ,In Rosser he writes, I recall with pleasure the early days of Friar. And, of course, am gratified, though not surprised, that it has become an important factor in the intellectual life of the University. It was not organized as a frivilous society. I regret that I live so far away that I cannot attend the Sunday morning breakfasts. I still treasure the Friar pin. Ph.D. from University of Wisconson, 1915; Taught at University of North Dakota, University of Iowa, Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of Cincinnati,.
Donald Duncan
Was a farmer in Egypt, Texas.