Albert and Ethel
Herzstein
F
O R T B E N D C O U N T Y |
Marker No: 18521
Aluminum 27 x 42 Subject Marker
Geographic: 29.699068,-95.909225
Location: Wallis Road, near intersection with FM 359, Fulshear
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Marker Text: Albert H. Herzstein was born March 5, 1907, into which 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 Avis was born April 13, 1896, in Fulshear, to a pioneer family. Albert and Ethel met in Houston and the pair married on Sept. 17, 1927.
Albert's business career began when he purchased a one-third share in the welding company, that eventually grew to become three big industries. Albert worked his way up to executive vice President and director before establishing Herstein investments, Inc. a subsidiary of the Albert and Ethel Herzstein charitable foundation established in 1965. Ethel's 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, Albert's appreciation of the hardships of small communities further the inspired the couple to create grants through their foundation for deserving courses including education, religion, support services for the underprivileged and the arts. The couple was married until Ethel's death on May 6, 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 American philanthropist of the year the Columbus Foundation of Ohio. He ran the foundation and real estate business until he died at the age of 90 on Match 16, 1997. (2016) |