Albert and Ethel Herzstein
Fulshear, Fort Bend County, Texas
Marker Inscription
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)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Albert Herzstein, born in 1907 to a Jewish immigrant family in Colorado, came to Houston in 1925 and built a career that carried him to the top of what became Big Three Industries. He and his wife Ethel, from a pioneer Fulshear family, turned their success into a charitable foundation established in 1965, beginning with the gift of a church sanctuary in memory of their parents. Together they funded education, the arts, and support for the underprivileged, and Albert — who never finished high school — was later honored as a philanthropist and given honorary degrees.
Why it matters
Their story reflects the immigrant path from modest beginnings to civic generosity that shaped communities across Texas.
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Related people
- · Albert H. Herzstein
- · Ethel Ann Davis Herzstein
Themes & tags
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