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Remembering One Who Remembered, Catharine Mary Emmott, the Mother of Memorial Park, A Priceless Legacy.

May 28, 2023 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

 

In September 1887, as a young single woman, my great-grandmother, Catharine Mary Taylor, set sail from the Port of Southampton, England on a ship bound for Galveston, Texas. Having graduated from the London Conservatory of Music, and with the goal of marrying her childhood sweetheart, John H Emmott, she at age 25 left all her family and friends behind to begin an amazing adventure. To live a life that would ultimately lead to the establishment of a memorial for our country’s fallen World War I soldiers.

After surviving a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and 25 days at sea, her vessel came to the Port of Galveston in October 1887. On October 22, 1887, John H Emmott married her at Trinity Church, Galveston. The ship’s captain gave the bride away.

Around the turn-of-the-century, Catharine and John built their home pictured here at 4505 Washington Ave. John died in 1914 of pneumonia. In 1917 Camp Logan was established. Catharine began renting rooms in her home to the wives of soldiers stationed at Camp Logan. Catharine and her gracious hospitality were very comforting to the wives of wounded soldiers recovering at Camp Logan and to the wives of soldiers soon to be headed to the killing fields of France.

Catharine’s son, Army, as a teenage boy, made his way daily to Camp Logan and earned money polishing boots of the soldiers and caddying for the soldiers who played golf. The original 9-hole golf course helped the wounded soldiers recover from casualties of war as part of recreational therapy. In addition to renting rooms to the wives of soldiers, for over 20 years Mr. Arthur D. Unkefer, the first Manager/Greens Keeper at the golf course, rented a room at her house.

Catharine was an avid golfer. In fact, she was the first woman to tee off there with her dear friend Mayor Oscar Holcomb. Pictured here is Catharine at Camp Logan (now Memorial Park) in her golf attire with her wooden shafted forged St. Andrews golf clubs.

Memorials don’t just happen. Someone has to start a flame that catches fire in the hearts and minds of others. In this case, when Camp Logan was being deactivated and sold to developers in 1923, Catharine wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper calling for the creation of a park to honor our country’s WWI soldiers.

Catharine Mary was asked to Chair the Memorial Park Fund Drive Committee to raise money and to work with others to secure the land to be utilized for the Memorial. Her initial vision was for a park of 100 acres. As a result of her work and others with Warner Realty owned by Will and Mike Hogg, 875 acres were sold at cost to the City for the park. An additional 630 acres were secured from Reinerman Land Company. The resulting Memorial which Catharine intended for 100 acres became more than 15 times the size as envisioned by her, a total of 1503 acres.

Today, let us honor all American soldiers for their sacrifice to preserve America’s liberty and freedom and peace in the world. But, the remembrance of them does not happen without those who do the remembering. The ones who did as Catharine did to bring about a Priceless Legacy, a legacy that is not just a place to golf, jog, play tennis or eat at Beck’s or commune with nature. But, a place to honor those who gave their lives for us.

The large, comfortable, two-story house on Washington Avenue is gone. So are the over 30,000 soldiers who trained at Camp Logan. So is the trolley which took people to and from the Camp Logan entrance near the current roundabout at Washington Avenue and Westcott Street. Catharine Mary and her son, Army, are no longer living either. But for generations to come Memorial Park will honor and remember our soldiers because Catharine remembered them and worked tirelessly with the Mayor, the American Legion, war mothers, civic leaders, women’s clubs, the Chamber of Commerce, churches, the newly created Harris County Historical Society, and with numerous gatherings in her home to create the Park in memory of those who sacrificed so much for us.

If you want to know more about Catharine Mary Emmott, the Mother of Memorial Park, visit Emmott Circle at the Houston Arboretum. Additionally, at the information desk, you can ask to read a book about her and Memorial Park entitled, Memorial Park, A Priceless Legacy.

Today, we honor all our country’s fallen soldiers. But, let us also remember those who remind us to remember our fallen soldiers and give thanks for all the memorials across America that exist because of the perseverance, wisdom, and vision of those like my great-grandmother, Catharine Mary Emmott.

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: A Priceless Legacy, Camp Logan, Catharine Mary Emmott, Jack Emmott, Remembering One Who Remembered, the Mother of Memorial Park

My Day with the Hamilton Elementary School Fifth Graders

January 27, 2019 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Huge thanks to Mr. Jack Emmott for coming out to visit with our 5th graders at Hamilton Elementary. Not only did Mr. Emmott share facts about polio and the toll it took on his body, he also reminded us to smile even when faced with adversity. #HESKindMinds#BePositive

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: Hamilton Elementary School Cy-Fair, Jack Emmott, Julie Prejean

Jack Emmott is a Child of God – an Interview with Dr. Stem Mahlatini

November 15, 2018 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

DrStem “Life Plus”, is all about Motivation, Inspiration, Education, Empowerment and Encouragement. DrStem is on a mission to inspire, and empower teenagers and adults alike to feel the fear and go after their passions and dreams anyway. Her work is designed to bring HOPE, boosting confidence to speak and live fearlessly out loud.

Follow Dr. Stem at https://americaoutloud.com/drstem/ and on Facebook.

Click here to enjoy the beautiful interview between DrStem and Jack.  57 minutes.

 

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: DrStem, DrStem Mahlatini, Jack Emmott, Jack Emmott is a Child of God

“Jack Emmott …simply has a huge heart and a passion for service.”

August 24, 2018 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

Jack Emmott Honored at Texas Bar Advanced Family Law Seminar

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: 2018 Gay G. Cox Award for Excellence In Collaborative Law, Jack Emmott, Texas Bar Advanced Family Law Seminar

Collaborative Divorce Houston’s Annual Membership Meeting – November 28, 2017

December 7, 2017 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

As President, I was pleased to preside at Collaborative Divorce Houston’s Annual Membership Meeting on November 28, 2017.  As you can see from the group photo taken at the meeting, all our outstanding members and guests enthusiastically received the launch of CDH’s website.  We applaud Tim Crouch of The Crouch Group and its staff for the comprehensive work giving CDH a digital presence to promote the mission of our non-profit organization.  Thanks to my fellow members for making Collaborative Divorce available so that divorcing couples can resolve their differences amicably, peaceably, and without resort to litigation.

Photos courtesy of Charles Crouch.

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker.  For more information about Jack or his latest book, go to Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love.

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: Collaborative Divorce Houston, Jack Emmott, The Crouch Group

Rotary Club of Baytown Celebrates World Polio Day with Jack Emmott

October 27, 2017 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

At a well-attended meeting at the Rotary Club of Baytown on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to this amazing Club.

I spoke on “Rotary International’s PolioPlus Program: the Treasure in the Darkness, a Light to the World Eliminating the Dreaded and Dark Disease of Polio.”

Sheila Crawford (Club’s President-Nominee and Executive Vice-President of BDI Resources), Jack Emmott and Nick Woolery (Club’s President and Assistant to the City Manager, Baytown, Texas).

Sheila Crawford (Club’s President-Nominee and Executive Vice-President of BDI Resources), Jack Emmott and Nick Woolery (Club’s President and Assistant to the City Manager, Baytown, Texas).

In 1985 when the PolioPlus Campaign started there were over 400,000 cases around the globe. This is astonishing since the polio vaccine was invented and administered in 1955, more than 30 years earlier.  As of July 2017 there were just 7 reported cases in the world in just three countries.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017 was World Polio Day.  If you have the time please view the YouTube video which will remind you of the devastation and loss of life which polio has caused, will enable you to see how polio survivors have thrived beyond paralysis and show how blessed you are that you and those you love will never have to face this epidemic again.   Bill and Melinda Gates and their Foundation have joined Rotary is getting the Campaign over the finish line.

To the Rotary Club of Baytown I celebrate your service to community and the needful world.

I pray that your Club and its members continue to flower in your work, now and in the future.

I will definitely come again if asked to speak.

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker.  For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: Bending Angels, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jack Emmott, Nick Woolery, Rotary Club of Baytown, Sheila Crawford, World Polio Day

Jack Emmott Included for Best Lawyers in America for Family Law

September 19, 2017 by Jack Emmott 2 Comments

I am honored to be recognized and selected in the field of Family Law for inclusion in 2018 Best Lawyers in America (a Woodward White company).

Best Lawyers conducts peer-review surveys in which thousands of lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers to compile its list.

About Best Lawyers

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 36,000 leading attorneys cast almost 4.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their specialties, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120 lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker.  For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.

 

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: Best Lawyers in American, Family Law, Jack Emmott, Woodard White

Meeting with the Rosenberg Rotary Club on Sept. 7, 2017

September 15, 2017 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Pictured here with Billy Guerrero, President of the Club. Photo courtesy of Bob Haenel, Member

 

I received a warm welcome at the Rosenberg Rotary Club on Wednesday, September 7, 2017. Hats off to this amazing Club in its work to eradicate polio worldwide and in its humanitarian efforts to help over 150 families who lost or had damage done to their homes along the Brazos River due to Hurricane Harvey.

My remarks were about my calling as a collaborative divorce attorney, such calling being found in the ashes of polio and paralysis. As of this date due to Rotary’s Polio Plus Campaign there are only 10 reported cases of polio in the World, which number is down from 27 this time last year.

I give thanks to Billy Guerrero, President of the Club for inviting me to speak.

 

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120 lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.

 

 

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: Bending Angels, Billy Guerrero, Jack Emmott, Rosenberg Rotary Club, Rotary’s Polio Plus Campaign

Visit with the North Shore Rotary Club at SanJac North, 9-7-17

September 8, 2017 by Jack Emmott Leave a Comment

Pictured with me are Shawn Silman and Adam Lund, Club President and Vice-President of Capital Bank (Jacinto City).

So grateful to have been asked by Shawn Silman, Member of North Shore Rotary Club and Dean of Liberal Arts at San Jacinto College-North Campus, to speak to the Club on Thursday, September 7, 2017. Despite the effects of Hurricane Harvey, there was a large turnout at the luncheon to hear my remarks.
I congratulated the Club on Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio around the globe. I told the group that I was a victim of a flood at age six by contracting polio in floodwaters. As I have written in Bending Angels, there is always a light in the darkness. What followed the darkness of polio, the flood and now Harvey are the best qualities within our common humanity. Praise be to God, this Club’s members and all those in this area who have stepped up to rescue, support and help those in need.

I shared how the lessons I learned in dark times led me to be a collaborative divorce and family lawyer. Collaborative process works because it protects privacy, preserves important relationships, allows couples to fashion their own outcomes with the support of professionals in communication, parenting and finance and does not let the outcome be decided by the attorneys, the courts or juries.

At Gray Reed and McGraw, LLP, our Firm is dedicated to offering the collaborative law resolution process to those who choose to use it.

If you like this prayer, please share.

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120 lawyer full service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.

 

 

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: Adam Lund, Jack Emmott, North Shore Rotary Club, San Jacinto College North, Shawn Silman

12th Annual Collaborative Law Luncheon in San Antonio

August 9, 2017 by Jack Emmott 1 Comment

With Tom Vick, President of the State Bar of Texas and Camille Milner, Immediate Past President of CDT

I was overjoyed and energized to attend the 12th Annual Collaborative Law Luncheon at the Advanced Family Law Course in San Antonio. Collaborative Divorce Texas’s featured speaker was Tom Vick, President of the State Bar of Texas. In his talk entitled, “Musings of a Collaborative President”, Tom shared the importance of the collaborative process to resolve conflict to preserve relationships and protect children from collateral damage in divorce. Camille Milner, Immediate Past President of CDT, introduced Tom in an eloquent and heartfelt manner.

Thanks to Tom and Camille for an outstanding program which benefited the attendees of this sold out event. All of us can take Tom’s moving remarks back to our communities and better serve our clients.  My firm, Gray, Reed and McGraw, LLP was one of the proud sponsors of the luncheon.

Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 120-lawyer full-service firm in Houston, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to BendingAngel.com.

Filed Under: In The News Tagged With: 12th Annual Collaborative Law Luncheon, Advanced Family Law Course, camille milner, Gray Reed and McGraw, immediate past president of cdt, Jack Emmott, president of the state bar of texas, Tom Vick

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About Jack H. Emmott

Jack H. Emmott

I am a polio survivor. The fact that I suffered paralysis at the age of six is, in some ways, unimportant. Bad things happen to everyone. Viewed differently...

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