Louie Welch
Encyclopedia
Louie Welch
Louie Welch (December 9, 1918
Louie Welch (December 9, 1918
Louie Welch (December 9, 1918"Mayor Louie Welch 1918 – 2008," Houston Public Library
– January 27, 2008,) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Houston, Texas, from 1964 to 1973.
. His father, Gilford Edgar, was an automobile mechanic. His mother, Nora Shackleford, taught a Bible study at the family church.
Welch's high school interests included the debate team and serving as president of his senior class. He loved literature and poetry and it was here he learned the passages he was so fond of quoting throughout his life. Memorizing these classic lines may also have contributed to his quick wit and brash one-liners. During his political career, Welch was known for his quick quips he used with the media. Sometimes this 'saltiness' got the diminutive man in trouble; more often than not it served its purpose: defusing the situation while making his point clear: he would stand up for what he believed was right. He studied at Abilene Christian College
, now Abilene Christian University, where he was a varsity cheerleader and a member of Phi Delta Psi social club. In 1940 he received his bachelor of arts in history.Abilene Christian University Alumni Directory 2009. Abilene, Texas: ACU Press, 2009. The Directory lists his children at birth as Tina, Gary, Shannon, Lisa, Louie, and Guy. He was married on December 17, 1940 to his first wife, Iola Faye Cure, in a ceremony performed by Homer Hailey
.http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/welch.html
Houston grew immensely when Welch was mayor. In 1963, Houston was still considered a 'small' city, having reached one million people. Under Welch, several events put Houston on the map, including the opening of the Astrodome and the Houston Intercontinental Airport. NASA
sent a man to the moon. Lake Conroe
and Lake Livingston
opened to provide water for Houston. Welch also closed forty inefficient sewage treatment plants, began cleaning up the Houston Ship Channel
, focused on bayou beautification; and began development of the downtown Civic Center, among other accomplishments. It should also be noted that Welch was the first Houston mayor to win all precincts during one of his reelections, including predominantly African American areas with which some claim he had trouble.
By the time Welch left office, Houston had become the fourth largest city in the United States.
. A police officer was killed by sniper fire from the top of a student building, and a number of Texas Southern students were arrested. The events created a rift between the administration and many of Houston's African Americans. Years later, Welch acknowledged that accusations of racism still bothered him but that the death of the officer and the thought of his family bothered him the most.
In early 1985, Welch was a leader in the opposition to the extension of job protection rights to homosexuals employed by the city government. Welch came back that year to run against Whitmire in the Houston Mayoral Elections. Some of his comments (namely his candid quote caught by a microphone on live television, suggesting that one way to curb the spread of HIV would be to "shoot the queers") upset the city's gay community. The Houston GLBT Political Caucus
supported his opponent in the race, Kathy Whitmire. She went on to defeat him in that race, remaining the city's mayor until the early 1990s.
residence at age 89 from lung cancer. He was survived by his wife, Helen, five children, and seventeen grandchildren, four stepchildren and four step-grandchildren. His first wife, Iola Faye Cure, died in 1991.
Louie Welch (December 9, 1918
Louie Welch (December 9, 1918
Louie Welch (December 9, 1918"Mayor Louie Welch 1918 – 2008," Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library
Houston Public Library is the public library system serving Houston, Texas, United States. The library system has its headquarters in the Marston Building in Neartown Houston.-History:It can trace its founding to the Houston Lyceum in 1854...
– January 27, 2008,) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Houston, Texas, from 1964 to 1973.
Early life
Louie Welch was born in Lockney, TexasLockney, Texas
Lockney is a town in Floyd County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,056 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lockney is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. His father, Gilford Edgar, was an automobile mechanic. His mother, Nora Shackleford, taught a Bible study at the family church.
Welch's high school interests included the debate team and serving as president of his senior class. He loved literature and poetry and it was here he learned the passages he was so fond of quoting throughout his life. Memorizing these classic lines may also have contributed to his quick wit and brash one-liners. During his political career, Welch was known for his quick quips he used with the media. Sometimes this 'saltiness' got the diminutive man in trouble; more often than not it served its purpose: defusing the situation while making his point clear: he would stand up for what he believed was right. He studied at Abilene Christian College
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
, now Abilene Christian University, where he was a varsity cheerleader and a member of Phi Delta Psi social club. In 1940 he received his bachelor of arts in history.Abilene Christian University Alumni Directory 2009. Abilene, Texas: ACU Press, 2009. The Directory lists his children at birth as Tina, Gary, Shannon, Lisa, Louie, and Guy. He was married on December 17, 1940 to his first wife, Iola Faye Cure, in a ceremony performed by Homer Hailey
Homer Hailey
Homer Hailey was a preacher in the churches of Christ in the 20th century, as well as a teacher at Abilene Christian University and Florida College and the author of at least 15 religious books. He was well-known for his general biblical knowledge and especially his knowledge of the Old Testament...
.http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/welch.html
City Council
At the coaxing of fellow Lion's Club members, Welch ran for Councilman and won. He served on the Houston City Council for eight years [four terms] from 1950 to 1952 and then 1956 until 1962.Mayor
After losing three times in a bid for mayor, in 1963 Welch was elected Mayor of Houston and served the city for five consecutive terms.Houston grew immensely when Welch was mayor. In 1963, Houston was still considered a 'small' city, having reached one million people. Under Welch, several events put Houston on the map, including the opening of the Astrodome and the Houston Intercontinental Airport. NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
sent a man to the moon. Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe is a 21,000 acre lake in Montgomery County, Texas, United States. Even though it is named Lake Conroe, only a small portion of the lake is in Conroe, Texas. Most of the lake is in Montgomery, Texas and Willis, Texas. The lake lies on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River just west of...
and Lake Livingston
Lake Livingston
Lake Livingston is a reservoir located in the East Texas Piney Woods. Lake Livingston was built, and is owned and operated, by the Trinity River Authority of Texas under contract with the City of Houston for water supply purposes. The lake is the largest lake constructed for water supply purposes...
opened to provide water for Houston. Welch also closed forty inefficient sewage treatment plants, began cleaning up the Houston Ship Channel
Houston Ship Channel
The Houston Ship Channel, located in Houston, Texas, is part of the Port of Houston—one of the United States's busiest seaports. The channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between the Houston-area shipyards and the Gulf of Mexico.-Overview:...
, focused on bayou beautification; and began development of the downtown Civic Center, among other accomplishments. It should also be noted that Welch was the first Houston mayor to win all precincts during one of his reelections, including predominantly African American areas with which some claim he had trouble.
By the time Welch left office, Houston had become the fourth largest city in the United States.
Controversy
Welch was mayor in 1967 when two days of battles erupted between police and students at predominantly black Texas Southern UniversityTexas Southern University
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
. A police officer was killed by sniper fire from the top of a student building, and a number of Texas Southern students were arrested. The events created a rift between the administration and many of Houston's African Americans. Years later, Welch acknowledged that accusations of racism still bothered him but that the death of the officer and the thought of his family bothered him the most.
In early 1985, Welch was a leader in the opposition to the extension of job protection rights to homosexuals employed by the city government. Welch came back that year to run against Whitmire in the Houston Mayoral Elections. Some of his comments (namely his candid quote caught by a microphone on live television, suggesting that one way to curb the spread of HIV would be to "shoot the queers") upset the city's gay community. The Houston GLBT Political Caucus
Houston GLBT Political Caucus
The Houston GLBT Political Caucus is the South's oldest civil rights organization dedicated solely to the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. Founded in 1975, it is the largest gay political organization in the city of Houston and Harris County...
supported his opponent in the race, Kathy Whitmire. She went on to defeat him in that race, remaining the city's mayor until the early 1990s.
Organizations
Welch served as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1972–73 and as Vice President of the National League of Cities from 1970 until 1973. In 1973 Louie Welch decided not to run again and in 1974 became President of the Houston Chamber of Commerce. His company was Louie Welch & Associates.Abilene Christian University Alumni Directory. Abilene, Texas: ACU Press, 2009.Death
Welch died on January 27, 2008 in his north Harris CountyHarris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
residence at age 89 from lung cancer. He was survived by his wife, Helen, five children, and seventeen grandchildren, four stepchildren and four step-grandchildren. His first wife, Iola Faye Cure, died in 1991.