| Notes |
- He was chairman and chief executive officer of First City Bancorporation of Texas. His and Margaret's philanthropic activities include The Margaret and James A. Elkins, Jr. Foundation and The Margaret and James A Elkins Foundation Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Obit - http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/metro/3686096
Houston Chronicle, Feb. 26, 2006
James Elkins Jr., 86, banker, civic leader
by Armando Villafranca
James Anderson Elkins Jr., banker, civic leader, philanthropist and a member of two of Houston's most powerful families, died Tuesday. He was 86.
Elkins was the former president of First City National Bank, from where he retired in 1988 as senior chairman.
Elkins' father, James Anderson Elkins Sr., cofounded the Houston law firm Vinson & Elkins and was linked on his wife's side to one of the founders of Exxon Mobil Corp.
"He was the scion of two of the most powerful families Houston had ever had," said Alfred Glassel, a longtime friend.
Elkins was born March 24, 1919, on Galveston Island to "Judge" James Anderson Elkins Sr. and Isabel Sims Mitchell.
He graduated from Princeton University in 1941 and began his banking career as a runner for City National Bank.
He married Margaret Keith Wiess on Nov. 24, 1945. The two would later became significant contributors to the business, civic and cultural lives of Houston.
"He was an outstanding Houstonian in every aspect," said Robert Mosbacher Sr., chairman and CEO of Mosbacher Energy. "He was a warm, caring person, perhaps not as personally dynamic but perhaps more caring and more loving than most businesspeople. A real gentleman."
Glassel said Elkins was "very civic-minded" and made several contributions to the city, including helping get several parks built here.
He also was one of the original benefactors of the Menil Collection, donating significant works of modern masters to the museum, including pieces by Michael Heizer and Ellsworth Kelly. "It's hard to image the Menil without Mr. Elkins," said Josef Helfenstein, director of the collection.
He served as director of American General, Cameron Iron Works, Eastern Airlines, Freeport-McMoran and the Hill-Samuel Group.
He was also a trustee or director of Baylor College of Medicine, Central Houston, Houston Grand Opera, the Menil Foundation, Princeton University, St. John's School, National Board of the Smithsonian Institution, Society for the Performing Arts, Texas Children's Hospital and the University of Houston Board of Regents.
Survivors include a son, James Anderson Elkins III; two daughters, Elise Elkins Joseph and Leslie Elkins Sasser; and 11 grandchildren.
A private graveside service was held Saturday at Glenwood Cemetery. A memorial service took place at Christ Church Cathedral.
-
The Huntsville Item, Feb. 23, 2006
James Anderson Elkins Jr.
James Anderson Elkins Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died February 21, 2006. Born March 24, 1919 on Galveston Island to Isabel Sims Mitchell and ?Judge? J. A. Elkins, he attended Kinkaid School, San Jacinto High School, The Hill School, and Princeton University, graduating in 1941. At 13, he began his career in banking as a runner for the City National Bank, retiring 56 years later as Senior Chairman of First City National Bank in 1988. He married the love of his life, Margaret Keith Wiess, on November 24, 1945, and due to their shared interest in the citizens of Houston, they made significant contributions to the business, civic, and cultural lives of the city they loved. In addition to his banking activities, he served as a director of American General, Cameron Iron Works, Eastern Airlines, Freeport-McMoran, and the Hill-Samuel Group, Ltd. He was involved with numerous organizations in Houston and served as a trustee or director of Baylor College of Medicine, Central Houston, Houston Grand Opera, the Menil Foundation, Princeton University, St. John?s School, National Board of the Smithsonian Institute, Society for the Performing Arts, Texas Children?s Hospital, and the University of Houston Board of Regents.
Mr. Elkins was predeceased by his beloved wife of fifty-four wonderful years, his parents, and his brother, William Sims Elkins, and is survived by his children, Elise Elkins Joseph and husband Russell, James Anderson Elkins III and wife Jenny, and Leslie Elkins Sasser and husband Shannon; his grandchildren Jennifer Joseph Laporte and husband Christopher, Russell Charles Joseph, Jr., Christopher Elkins Joseph, Margaret Wiess Elkins, James Anderson Elkins IV, Buck Arnold Elkins, John Caldwell Elkins, Harry Carothers Elkins, Samuel Hill Elkins, Lucy Gray Elkins, and Caroline Elise Sasser; and his nieces and nephew, Ann Elkins Flaten, Ellen Elkins DeGregory, William Sims Elkins, Jr., Sandra Isabel Lloyd, Sharon Smith Keller, and Sydney Carothers Keith.
A private graveside service will be held Saturday morning, the 25th of February 2006, at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. The memorial service will be held at half-past two o?clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 25th of February 2006, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston, with the Very Reverend Joe D. Reynolds and the Reverend J. Pittman McGehee officiating. Honorary Pallbearers are the former employees, officers, and directors of First City National Bancorporation to whom he was so dedicated.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77002; Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030; The Menil Collection, 1511 Branard, Houston, Texas 77006; or his friends? favorite charities.
|
1919 - 2006 (86 years)
