Hugh Roy Cullen

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Hugh Roy Cullen

H.R. Cullen, ca. 1947
Born (1881-07-03)July 3, 1881
Denton County, Texas, United States
Died July 4, 1957(1957-07-04) (aged 76)
Houston, Texas, United States
Occupation Oilman, Philanthropist
Known for Philanthropism
Spouse(s) Lillie Cranz Cullen
Children Four daughters, One son
Parents Cicero Cullen, Louise Beck Cullen
Relatives Ezekiel Wimberly Cullen
Website
The Cullen Foundation

Hugh Roy Cullen (July 3, 1881 – July 4, 1957) was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Cullen was heavily involved in the petroleum industry, was a large supporter of the University of Houston, and longtime chairman of the board of regents for the university. He is considered one of the most important figures in Texas during the Oil Boom era.[1]

Cullen married Lillie Cranz in 1902 and had five children: Roy Gustav, Lillie, Agnes, Margaret, and Wilhelmina.

In 1938, the Cullens made a contribution to build the Roy Gustav Cullen Building on the new campus of the University of Houston. He would continue to make large donations to the university throughout his lifetime. The Cullen Foundation is still a large contributor to the school.

Cullen had been in his early life a Democrat, but supported Herbert Hoover and other Republicans after 1929, due to the belief that the Democratic Party was, at the national level, the party of machine politics and socialism. Additionally, he was critical of fellow Houston leader Jesse H. Jones.[2] He was also at one point a supporter of the Dixiecrat movement:

" Although Cullen aided the Dixiecrat movement in 1948, he normally supported Republican candidates, particularly Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952."[3] - Handbook of Texas Online

In 1946, he donated the land that later became Texas Southern University.[4]

In 1947, the Cullens created the Cullen Foundation. In late 1954, less than three years before his death, Cullen's fortune was estimated to be $200–300 million.[5]

Cullen is the grandfather of coal magnate Corbin Robertson, Jr.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Burrough, Bryan (October 2008). "The Man Who Was Texas". Vanity Fair. 
  2. ↑ "Seven Big Texans". Time. 1950-02-13. Retrieved 2009-02-22. 
  3. ↑ http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fcu06
  4. ↑ "Texas Southern University". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historial Association. Retrieved 2010-07-21. 
  5. ↑ "People". Time. 1954-12-13. Retrieved 2009-02-22. 
  6. ↑ Fisher, Daniel (20 January 2003). "Fuel's Paradise". Forbes. Retrieved 28 November 2013. 

Further reading

  • Kilman, Ed; Wright, Theon (2007) [Originally published in 1954]. Hugh Roy Cullen: A Story Of American Opportunity. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 0-548-39063-0. 
  • Burrough, Bryan (2009). The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes. Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-59420-199-8. 

External links

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