Here stands Herzstein. What secrets does this stone hold?
The name Herzstein, ironically translates to “heart of stone.” It comes from Thielen in Germany’s Westphalia region. The Herzstein name is quite unique.
Perhaps it’s fitting that we talk about someone with the last name Herzstein here. Let me tell you about Albert Herzstein. He epitomized the American dream. He was a believer in the capitalist enterprise. Albert was a keen and honest negotiator. He treated everyone with dignity. Albert passed away in 1997 at the age of 90.
Albert and Ethel Herzstein were children of pioneers. Albert’s parents were Jewish settlers. Morris Herzstein and Lena Goldsmith Herzstein owned a mercantile store. They also built the first cinema in Clayton. This was in far northeast New Mexico. Ethel Ann Avis was from Fulshear, Texas. Her family helped establish the Fulshear United Methodist Church. It became one of the Herzstein Foundation’s early recipients.
Born in 1907 in Trinidad, Colorado, Albert Herzstein came to Houston. He was an ambitious young man of 18. It was 1925. He arrived with a job offer from B.K. Smith’s welding company. Within two years, he married Ethel Ann Avis. She worked at the Western Union office.
Investing funds from the sale of Ethel’s Ford Coupe in 1930, Herzstein helped build Smith’s company. It became an industry powerhouse and eventually became Big Three Industries, then Air Liquide.
The Herzsteins established their charitable foundation in 1965. A banker friend advised them to do it big. He said they should put their name on it, which would be the footsteps they leave behind.
Herzstein retired from Big Three in 1965. He established a real estate business, Herzstein Investments. It eventually acquired over a million square feet of warehouse space, debt-free. The Herzstein’s philanthropy grew.
The couple helped build Fulshear United Methodist Church. They also supported Congregation Emanu-El. The foundation also provided funds to Catholic organizations. It supported non-denominational institutions, too.
After Ethel died in 1983, her estate became the catalyst for larger-scale philanthropy. Al’s sister, Sadie R. Smith, contributed her estate in 1985.
Herzstein earned accolades in his later years. A Columbus Foundation committee gave him The American Philanthropist of the Year Award in 1993. St. Thomas University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate.
People asked Herzstein why he was so generous. He said he was the luckiest guy in the world.
Another Herzstein was Robert Erwin Herzstein. He died in 2015 at the age of 83. He suffered from heart disease. Bob Herzstein was a lawyer and public official. He was a longtime friend of Salzburg Global Seminar. He first attended a session at Schloss Leopoldskron in 1950.
Robert Herzstein served as Undersecretary of Commerce in the Carter Administration. He was the first head of the International Trade Administration. He played influential roles as an international trade lawyer. He advocated for public justice, human rights, and conflict resolution. He supported Salzburg Global with ideas, financial support, and a willingness to open doors.
So, as we stand before the Herzstein, let us remember the legacy of the Herzstein family. Their contributions to society resonate far beyond this place.