Tony Houseman

Family, friends and colleagues were sad to learn that the vigorous and vital Tony Houseman died at his home in Orange, Texas, on August 3, 2007. The big man with the signature shock of white curls was noted wherever he went for his magnetic personality, ready laughter, and generosity of spirit. A Memorial Service for Tony will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 11, 2007, at First Baptist Church in Vidor, TX. Reverend Terry Wright pastor will officiate. A reception will follow the service for friends and family at the family residence, ?The Homeplace.? Tony Houseman became an important feature in the landscape of Southeast Texas in 1987, when he purchased ownership of his family land company and formed the Housemen Companies. He and Gisela, his wife of 23 years and partner in all his activities, continued the Houseman tradition of home building that had begun in the 1960s. Their work in property development and as master builders is found all across seven southeastern Texas counties, from Galveston Bay to Sabine Lake and points inland, and in five Louisiana parishes.In July this year Tony Houseman Homes?motto: "Built Like a Rock"?formally expanded into Louisiana, opening a new office in Lake Charles. Tony was attending to his business and community involvements right to the end, despite years of illness that would have felled a lesser man. Long a full participant in company ventures, Gisela now takes over the reins.Alongside his business interests, Tony was a major player in a series of local charities, wildlife conservation organizations, and regional economic engines. Champion of ChildrenTony Houseman was a special champion of children. Among his many roles with charitable organizations, he founded the House With A Heart Expo, raising more than $350, 000 to help abused and neglected children of Southeast Texas. He likewise founded the Desperados Cinco de Mayo celebration, with proceeds devoted to abused children, and he organized Christmas in July, gathering 5, 000 toys for children in need. For ten years he was heavily involved with Love Texas Kids and the Dallas Margarita Society, distributing toys to underprivileged children; it was through friends in this society that he met Gisela. His lasting commitment to cheering the lives of children earned him the designation of Child Advocate of the Year from Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children CASA and a Commendation for Service award from the Mickey Mehaffy Children's Advocacy Program.In Orange County he founded Patrons of Police POP, a support group for law enforcement personnel, and went on to launch Hoop-D-Do on the Bayou, a three-on-three charity basketball tournament with proceeds going to the Special Olympics and POP.Conserving Wildlife and Wild LandWildlife conservation organizations were close to his big heart as well?more than a dozen of them, with programs reaching far beyond the woodlands of Southeast Texas. A lifelong outdoorsman, Tony loved hunting whenever he could break away. He and Gisela have enjoyed hunting and fishing adventures together from Alaska to South Africa and bird hunting from Kansas to Scotland. He took 17 African safaris and collected some world-class animals with his muzzleloader. Perhaps his most lasting contribution to wildlife conservation and future quality of life in Texas is the Tony Houseman State Park and Wildlife Management Area at Blue Elbow on the Sabine River, just north of Interstate 10. Established in 1996, the conserved area is more than 3, 600 acres in size, with some seven miles of Sabine frontage. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired most of the land from Tony through partial donation and his generosity. The park's habitats range from classic eastern hardwood bottomlands to cypress-tupelo swamp and coastal marshes. The TXDOT welcome station on I-10 now features a boardwalk trail into the swamp. Site number one on the world-renowned Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the park is an important destination for birders wanting to see the rare swallow-tailed kite. Tony served Parks and Wildlife in several capacities: as an Advisory Board member both for Operation Game Thief, the department's independently funded anti-poaching wing, and for the annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo in Austin, an October exhibition attracting thousands of young people for outdoor experiences in casting, archery, and shooting various types of firearms. He was on the Executive Committee of the Parks and Wildlife task force on the Future of Hunting in Texas and was a member of the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas.For more than 20 years Tony was a member of the Houston and Dallas Safari Clubs, and he was the only person to have held the considerable responsibility of being the president and chairing the conventions of both clubs. These are by no means honorary titles?the four jobs are hands-on, working roles requiring extensive committee time and coordination effort.Both organizations raise funds running to six figures every year for conservation work from East Texas to East Africa. Tony helped launch the program Operation Bright Lights in Tanzania, whereby sportsmen's dollars provide infrastructure for rural villagers. Houston Safari Club presented him with its Lifetime Service Award, Conservation Award, and in 2007 with its prestigious Frank Green Award for commitment to the greater good of sport hunting and wildlife.Tony was also a charter member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus in Washington, D.C., a past board member of Sportsmen Conservationists of Texas, and a member of the Texas Wildlife Association, Wildlife Legislative Fund of America, Texas Bighorn Society, Endangered Wildlife Foundation, Safari Club International, Sportsmen's Coalition, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Ducks Unlimited. DU honored him as Sportsman of the Year in 1996.A Powerhouse in Economic Development Born in Port Arthur, Tony left Texas in 1966 to embark on an investment banking career in Los Angeles. Later, in New York, he obtained New York Stock Exchange licenses up to the level of partner/owner and went on to establish his own firm, Houseman Securities, in Dallas.Houseman Securities originated, developed and underwrote numerous projects, from water and sewer tax revenue bonds to health care projects and real estate limited partnerships. The firm specialized in developing projects of up to $10 million, while also establishing expertise in tax shelters, estate planning, and limited partnerships and acting as financial consultant for business acquisitions.Business aside, Tony devoted substantial energy to the Southeast Texas Economic Development Corporation SET, Inc., where he was chairman for two terms and was serving as an Executive Board member with ten years' standing when he passed away. He was also a current Executive Board member of the Partnership of Southeast Texas POST, where he had served for four years. In nearby Bridge City, he had earlier served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, had chaired Bridge City Economic Development and the Bridge City Unified Development Code, and had been president of Rotary, which honored him as Rotarian of the Year and Paul Harris Fellow; the latter award recognizes contributions to improving lives and furthering understanding among the peoples of the world.Tony received the prestigious Community Builder Award by the Madison Lodge #126 of Orange. He had served as a board member of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and presented with a Key to the City of Orange. He was also a past board member of the Vidor Chamber of Commerce and the Builders Association of Southeast Texas; was in Leadership Southeast Texas Class of 1992-93; and was a former member of the National Association of Securities Dealers. He was proud to be on the Board of Directors of the Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation, which oversees scholarships and manages the school's endowment fund. Formerly a division of Lamar University, the Institute of Technology became independent when the university was absorbed into the Texas state system in the 1990s. Tony is survived by his wife, Gisela, four children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Son, Stanley Houseman and wife Susan, daughter Zo Houseman of Portland, OR, daughter Debi Means and husband, Michael, daughter Julie Hobert and husband, Randy of Plano. Grandsons Chad Kelly, Matthew Houseman and wife Lesli, Sean Acuna, Samantha Means, Emily Means, Bradley Hobert and Abigail Hobert, great grandsons, Sawyer Houseman and Justin Kelly.Memorial contributions may be made to either: Lamar Foundation-Lamar State College Orange-Business, P O Box 2516, Orange, TX 77631 or Lamar University Beaumont-Speech & Hearing, P O Box 11500, Beaumont, TX 77710.