Julius Schepps
Encyclopedia
Julius Schepps was an American civic leader and businessman.
in 1901 to start a bakery business, he worked in the bakery and sold newspapers. He attended Texas A&M University
in 1914 on a baseball scholarship until it was discovered that he lacked a high school education.
and worked there for two years. He married Phyllis Eickman in El Paso in 1915, with whom he later had three children.
and contributed to build a retirement home for the Jewish population in Dallas. Schepps was once a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Parochial School, co-chairman of the mission to build St. Paul Hospital in Dallas, and was also a member of other Protestant groups. He acted as director of the United Fund, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Carruth Memorial Rehabilitation Center, WRR classical radio station
(the oldest radio station in Texas, and second oldest in the United States), and the Dallas Citizens Council. Schepps served on the committee for the West Dallas Housing Project in later years.
Schepps served on the grand jury that investigated a string of bombings to African-American communities in the 1950s in Dallas, and headed the first biracial committee in Dallas.
The stretch of Interstate 45
within the City of Dallas, and a small park in Deep Ellum
are both named in his honor.
Early life
Schepps was born in St. Louis, MO to Russian immigrant parents Joe and Jennie (née Nathanson) Schepps. When his parents moved to DallasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
in 1901 to start a bakery business, he worked in the bakery and sold newspapers. He attended Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in 1914 on a baseball scholarship until it was discovered that he lacked a high school education.
Later years
Though Schepps was forced to leave the university, he became a lifetime supporter of it. He later moved to El PasoEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
and worked there for two years. He married Phyllis Eickman in El Paso in 1915, with whom he later had three children.
Business life
Schepps acquired the family bakery in 1922 when his father Joe Schepps died (it was sold in 1928). After the bakery was sold, he started an insurance company that lasted 43 years. He established the Schepps Brewing Company in 1934 and sold it the next year. He served on the board of directors (once as chairman) for the Mercantile National Bank from 1922 until his death. He shared other business interests including bakeries and other insurance companies. His success as a businessman allowed him to become a generous contributor to a number of charities.Charity work
Schepps donated close to $120,000 to the relief of Jews in the United States during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and contributed to build a retirement home for the Jewish population in Dallas. Schepps was once a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Parochial School, co-chairman of the mission to build St. Paul Hospital in Dallas, and was also a member of other Protestant groups. He acted as director of the United Fund, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Carruth Memorial Rehabilitation Center, WRR classical radio station
WRR (FM)
WRR is a municipally-owned radio station, owned by the city of Dallas, Texas, that broadcasts a classical music format....
(the oldest radio station in Texas, and second oldest in the United States), and the Dallas Citizens Council. Schepps served on the committee for the West Dallas Housing Project in later years.
Schepps served on the grand jury that investigated a string of bombings to African-American communities in the 1950s in Dallas, and headed the first biracial committee in Dallas.
Awards
Schepps received the Linz Award in 1953 and was recognized as "Dallas's Most Outstanding Citizen" the following year. He was recognized as "Headliner of the Year" by the Press Club of Dallas in 1962. Three years later, he received a "Brotherhood Citation" by the National Conference of Christians and Jews and was given the Humanitarian Award by B'nai B'rith.The stretch of Interstate 45
Interstate 45
Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
within the City of Dallas, and a small park in Deep Ellum
Deep Ellum
Deep Ellum is an arts and entertainment district near downtown in east Dallas, Texas . It lies directly east of the elevated I-45/US 75 freeway and extends to Exposition Avenue, connected to downtown by, from north to south, Pacific, Elm, Main, Commerce, and Canton streets...
are both named in his honor.