Henry was a larger than life Oil man from Louisiana. He held court every day in Allen’s Landing, a club located in the Houston Club downtown. Henry was an impressive man; he was going bald on the front with snow white hair on the sides of his head. He had a big barrel chest which he liked to stick against you. He was always smoking a smelly cigar. He would use this cigar like a pointer as he told you what he expected you to do. You did not walk into Allen’s Landing without risking Henry’s wrath.
There are many stories about this legendary Oil man. My favorite is about one of Henry’s car wrecks. Henry’s house was located on Memorial drive around Piney Point. Henry was a very logical man who drank vast quantities of Jack Daniels and always had a plan. It was one of those rainy nights in Houston, when it was pouring down so hard you could not see. Henry was driving home on that winding Memorial Drive.
Now Henry knew he was too drunk to see the road, so he followed directly behind a car, figuring that if he stayed on the bumper of the car in front of him, he would not go off into the ditch on the side of the road. Well the car in front of Henry’s came to a sudden stop, and Henry ran into the back of their car.
Henry thought for a moment and decided that the best defense was an offense. Henry would get out of his car and yell and scream at the man about why he stopped suddenly and caused this wreck. Henry did just this. And to his amazement the man answered him saying I stopped because I am in my garage sir. This was one of the only times Henry was speechless.