BUSINESS HALL OF FAME AWARD
The Angelina County Business Hall of Fame program is designed to honor past prominent business leaders.
Honoring those who have made extraordinary contributions to Lufkin/Angelina County and earned the respect of the local community.
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“What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.”
PLATO
To be considered as a Hall of Fame Laureate, an individual’s record of business achievement must demonstrate excellence in the following general categories: business excellence; entrepreneurial spirit; courageous thinking and action; inspiring leadership; community impact; positive role model; enduring accomplishments; and local influence. Hall of Fame Laureates are individuals whose work moved the Lufkin/Angelina County community in a better, stronger direction. This honor is given posthumously.
No more than five individuals will be inducted annually. Nominations will remain on file for five years. The Selection Committee will be most concerned with “why this person should be honored as a member of the Angelina County Business Hall of Fame.”
The full Business Hall of Fame is located in the lobby of Kurth Memorial Library.
business hall of fame
previous recipients
Claude R. Smithhart
1932 - 2016
Claude R. Smithhart purchased Lufkin Printing Company in 1955, growing it from a small two-man shop into a thriving business with 45 employees. Claude deeply loved his community and dedicated his time to making Lufkin, Texas, a better place.
He held various leadership roles, serving as a trustee of the Pineywoods Foundation and Memorial Hospital, was the Angelina County Airport Board president, and Lufkin National/Regions Bank director. He also led the Lufkin ISD School Board, Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, The Museum of East Texas, and was a charter member and President of the Friends of the Ellen Trout Zoo.
As a passionate advocate for the community, Claude commissioned a painting of the Hasini woman, Angelina, giving a face to the county’s namesake. His legacy of service and love for Lufkin lives on in the many roles he played in shaping the community.
George H. Henderson, Jr.
1935-2003
George Henderson, Jr. stood head and shoulders above the crowd—in more ways than one. Standing 6 foot 9, the businessman and civic leader will most be remembered for the size of his heart, and his tremendous love for Lufkin and Angelina County. He was the kind of man working hard behind the scenes to make Deep East Texas a better place for everyone, without ever seeking anything in return.
He was instrumental in the creation of the George H. Henderson, Jr. Exposition Center and served on numerous boards including The Pineywoods Foundation, Methodist Retirement Communities, PineCrest Retirement Community, Memorial Health System of East Texas, First United Methodist Church, Angelina College and Hospice in the Pines, just to name a few.
To those who knew him, Henderson’s heart was proportional to his Texas-sized frame.
Bettye George 1928-2000
Murphy Goerge 1919-2001
Bettye and Murphy George were both longtime civic leaders and champions for Angelina County and East Texas. Murphy was known across East Texas for his part in founding and building up local service agencies that improved the quality of life for many who otherwise might have gone without. He was a pioneer in forming The Boys and Girls Club of Deep East Texas and was the driving force behind the opening of The Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center.
Bettye had the ability to make everyone she came into contact with feel better. She was heavily involved at the Lufkin State Supported Living Center, where she established the Sunshine Golf Tournament, which benefitted the school.
Their love for their family and their community will never be forgotten.
Jack O. (Butch) McMullen, Jr.
1953-1990 - Jack. O. (Butch) McMullen, Jr. was considered a rising star in the1980’s. He was involved with Leadership Lufkin, The Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, the Wilson McKewen Rehabilitation Center, and the Lufkin Noon Lion’s Club. Butch served as the President of the Angelina and Neches River Railroad where, until his untimely death, he never stopped contributing to his work, his community, and his family.
S.M. Morris was the general manager and treasurer of the Lufkin Land & Lumber Company for 17 years before leaving Lufkin for the Pacific Coast. He was also the very first president of the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce, serving in the role for three years (1919-1921). He was known for his good judgement, conservative leadership, and his far seeing eye for community development.
Brothers Sam and Eli Wiener joined the Business Hall of Fame. The brothers, along with Joseph H. Kurth, Sr. and S.W. Henderson, Sr., founded the Angelina and Neches River Railroad in 1900, using the tracks and rolling stock of a logging tramroad operated by their lumber company, Angelina County Lumber Company of Keltys.
Simon Wood Henderson
1859-1923 — Simon Wood Henderson came to Texas in 1883. Henderson acquired a general mercantile in 1886 and was active in timber and land sales. He was involved in numerous sawmill ventures throughout East Texas, including a sawmill in Keltys, and in the Angelina & Neches River Railroad, a company-owned line of Angelina County Lumber Company. His business acumen led him into many other related enterprises in the Pineywoods Regions, including Lufkin Foundry & Machine Company, organized in 1902.
Joseph Hubert Kurth
1857-1930 — Joseph H. Kurth, born in Germany, immigrated to Texas in 1878. Initial work in a commercial lumber yard led to his purchase of a mill at Kurth Station and eventually to purchasing a larger mill at Keltys, just north of Lufkin. Angelina County Lumber Company was born of the venture. A company railroad, the Angelina & Neches River Railroad, also resulted from the enterprise. Becoming very influential in the southern forest products industry, he also co-owned Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company.
Edgar (Ed) Charles Wareing
1920-2014 — Throughout his 38 years at Texas Foundries as a Plant Engineer, Edgar Charles Wareing was involved in city government. He served as the chairman of the City Planning and Zoning Commission where he was instrumental in creating Lufkin's current charter. Ed was elected to City Council in 1967 and he was re-elected in every contest through 1984.
Horace M. Cardwell, Jr.
1919-1995 — Horace Cardwell, Jr. was the initial administrator for Memorial Hospital and served for 37 years in this capacity. His legacy is the teamwork generated to create what has evolved into today's medical hub for Angelina County.
Austin Brookshire
1888-1951 — Austin Brookshire and brother Tom started with one store in 1921 and by 1928 founded Brookshire Bros which grew to over 30 stores by 1951. Mr. Brookshire was considered a philanthropist by many and lived with a desire to benefit mankind — one of the most respected and well thought-of citizens of Angelina County. The philanthropic efforts he started continue to be a part of the Brookshire Bros company and the communities it serves.
Irma Newton Franklin
1915-2002 — Irma Newsom Franklin was a pioneer businesswoman and civic leader. She served as President of Lufkin Coca Cola Bottling Co. from 1962-2000. She was the first female member of the Board of Directors of First State Bank of Lufkin and member of the Lufkin Service League. She was extremely generous both personally and through Lufkin Coca Cola, helping numerous organizations - a legacy that lives on throughout the Lufkin Coca-Cola service area.
Colonel “Cal” Chambers
1888 – 1958 — After a brilliant military career, Colonel Charles Carroll “Cal” Chambers established Texas Foundries, Inc. the first malleable Iron Foundry in the Southwest & began operations in 1939, past president of the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, helped established Memorial Hospital & Southland Paper Mill.
W. R. Beaumier
1906 – 1965 — In 1943 Walter Raymond Beaumier became the general manager of the Lufkin Daily News. A recognized newspaperman he was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal by the Freedom Foundation. Past member Texas Commissions for Indian Affairs & past president of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association
H. J. Shands, Jr.
1896 – 1984 — Prominent banker & civic leader, Hilliard. J. Shands, Sr. was president of the Chamber of Commerce, vice president of the First State Bank Co. of Lufkin in 1938, president in 1960, and chairman of the board in 1966. Served as chairman of the board of both the Diboll State Bank & Pineland State Bank.
John S. Redditt
1899-1973 — Opened a law practice in Lufkin in 1921, John Sayers Redditt served on the Lufkin ISD Board, served as State Senator 1933-1941, Chairman of the Texas Highway Commission 1945-1949, member of the Texas Commission on Higher Education 1955-1961 and University of Texas Board of Regents 1961-1964.
Curtis W. Fenley
Curtis William Fenley served as President of the Angelina County Bar Association, Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, the Angelina County Community Chest and was founding member and president of the Lufkin Rotary Club. He served as County Attorney and City Attorney..
John Perry, Sr.
1884-1968 — One of five brothers who founded the Perry Brothers variety stores with over 1200 locations in Texas & Louisiana, John Perry Sr. served as a Lufkin ISD board member, president of the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, Lufkin Rotary Club and as a member of the Lufkin City Commission.
Dr. A. M. Denman
1856-1908 — A progressive civic-minded physician and surgeon, Dr. Alexander Madison Denman, with Judge E. J. Mantooth, brought Lufkin’s first telephone in 1898, first X-ray machine and first hospital and surgery suite in 1905. He was Lufkin Mayor 1903-1905.
Judge E.J. Mantooth
1852-1944 — Member of Lufkin’s first City Council, Mayor 1895-1897 & 1901-1903, Judge Edwin James Mantooth helped bring phone service to Lufkin with Dr. A. M. Denman, served as county attorney, president of Lufkin National Bank, Director of Texas Power & Light, Lufkin Ice Company and Angelina Hotel Company.
J.S. Moore
1849-1928 — From a start as mule teaming for the railroads, into a dynamic highway construction business and later commercial construction, John Salisbury Moore was an Angelina County pioneer who founded Moore Bros. and whose roots have helped build Angelina County for five generations.
B.E. Atkinson
1903-1992 — Mr Atkinson began his candy company out of his car, and in 1940, the family-operated plant opened on Frank Avenue. Atkinson Candy Company is now known throughout the world for its peanut butter bars, coconut slices, and of course, Chick-O-Sticks.
Simon Henderson Jr.
1904-1992 — Mr. Henderson worked alongside his father, Simon Henderson Sr., at Angelina County Lumber Company and Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company, the forerunner of Lufkin Industries. In 1949, he became the champion of Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin. The Henderson Foundation, established in his and his wife’s names, has contributed to the hospital’s growth over the past several decades.
Jack McMullen
1920-1983 — Jack McMullen served as vice-president and general manager of the Angelina and Neches River Railroad and helped create the Texas Forestry Museum.
Walter C. Trout 1874-1947 — Trout moved to Lufkin from Wisconsin and began selling sawmill equipment. When sawmills began to decline, Trout invented the first enclosed gear oil well pumping unit in 1922 and turned a small foundry into Lufkin Industries, Inc., which is today a worldwide producer of oil field equipment.
Ernest L. Kurth
1885-1960 — In the 1930s, Kurth, son of an East Texas sawmill owner, became the impetus for the creation of the Southland Paper Mills, Inc., the first mill to produce newsprint from southern pine fiber. The mill provided a new era of jobs and growth for East Texas and Angelina County.
Arthur Temple, Jr.
1920-2006 — Temple built upon the assets of Southern Pine Lumber Company, founded by his grandfather T.L.L. Temple, to create one of America’s leading forest products companies providing widespread jobs and growth for East Texas, including Angelina County.