DUANE
Duane's take
The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce — and Duane's gonna do it justice. Now, spring of 1838, the Republic of Texas was still finding its footing, and out on that salt-wind island, a small group of Galveston's original civic leaders got together — informally, mind you, no fanfare, no fancy charter — and decided somebody ought to be minding the store. That quiet gathering turned out to be one of the oldest Chambers of Commerce in all of Texas.
They made it official on February 3, 1845, with a formal charter. And when you look at the names on that founders' list, well, you start to realize this was not a room full of ordinary men. John K.
Allen — founder of Houston. Gail Borden, who would become nothing less than the dairy king. Michel B.
Menard, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Samuel May Williams, colonizing contractor. And Thomas F.
McKinney, a man the marker calls — and I love this — a versatile businessman. That's the kind of company this organization kept right out of the gate. These founders weren't just meeting for the coffee.
They helped the city establish local government. They worked alongside the Galveston City Company to sell lots for homes and businesses, turning raw island ground into something people could actually live and build in. They helped organize Galveston County itself, and they worked to connect the island by mail to the neighboring counties of Brazoria and Harris.
And then there was the water. Waterborne commerce — the very basis of the island's economy — that was their cause. They promoted it, they pushed for it, they understood that Galveston's future floated on what came in and went out through those gulf waters.
They encouraged settlers to work here, to reside here, to plant roots in the sand. Over the years, that same voluntary organization of business leaders kept showing up. The port.
The University of Texas Medical Branch. The tourist industry. Causeways.
The Maritime Academy. Galveston Community College. The advance of the city's industry and commerce, broad as that sounds, they had a hand in all of it.
Started with a handful of men talking on an island in the spring of 1838. One of the oldest Chambers of Commerce in Texas — and by the look of what they built, they earned every year of that title.
What the marker says
One of the oldest Chambers of Commerce in Texas. Informally organized, spring 1838, during Republic of Texas, by a small group of Galveston's original civic leaders. Formally chartered February 3, 1845. Among founders were men who had, or soon would have, statewide fame: John K. Allen (founder of Houston), Gail Borden (dairy king), Michel B. Menard (a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence), Samuel May Williams (colonizing contractor), and Thomas F. McKinney (versatile businessman). These men assisted city in establishing a local government and helped Galveston City Co. sell lots for homes and businesses. They aided in organizing Galveston County and instituting mail connections with nearby Brazoria and Harris counties. Waterborne commerce -- basis of island's economy -- was promoted by the group, which also aided growth and prosperity by encouraging settlers to work and reside here. Over the years this voluntary organization of business leaders has played a role in development of the port, the University of Texas Medical branch, tourist industry, causeways, Maritime Academy, and Galveston Community College, as well as fostering the advance of the city's industry and commerce.