Henry A. Vogel

Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and Uncle

Businessman, Outdoorsman, Singer and Community Leader

Henry Anton Vogel was born on December 29, 1913 in Selma Texas, to Adele and Joe Vogel. Joe, his brothers, Anton and Carl and his parents Anton Vogel and Rosa Vogel immigrated to the United States from Baden, Baden Germany through Galveston, Texas when Joe was a teenager. They established the family farm in Selma. As a boy, Henry worked on the farm. He completed the eighth grade at the little school in Selma. Then he went to work on the farm full time. At the age of 16, he took a job working for his grandfather-in-law, Eddie Kneupper, driving a gravel truck. His job was to haul gravel from the Cibolo creek bed to Randolph AFB, where Eddie was building the runways. Eddie had owned the land where Randolph AFB was built. He also owned the cotton gin in Converse, which allowed him to acquire substantial real estate holdings in the area.

He soon moved into San Antonio to seek his fortunes. While learning the industrial equipment business as a salesman, Henry joined the Lion's Club and helped build and equip the Boy's Club of San Antonio on E. Drexel. He maintained his involvement in the community and later, as a Rotarian, helped build the Rotary Club baseball field in Olmos Park.

Soon he discovered there was a need in San Antonio for someone who could build the steel equipment for cement plants. They were being built in Chicago and Kansas City, making the cost and delivery time to San Antonio prohibitive. The orders started pouring in and he was soon able to start his own company, Trans-Tex Fabricating Company. Soon he was building the steel components for the cement and lime plants of Texas. Today, his work still paints the skylines from San Antonio to Austin. The Quarry Market was once Alamo Portland Cement Co. In the 1950's those big smoke stacks you see today were spewing cement dust all over the Olmos Basin. They called Henry and he designed and built a large room at the base of the stacks that sprayed the exhaust with hundreds of fine mist sprayers, leaving only steam to leave the stacks.

Before he retired, his reputation for fairness reached a point where his customers would not even ask for a bid. They would just send a purchase order and let him fill in the price. Henry retired at 70, but was called back when Fiesta Texas was built. The contractors could not figure out how to construct the waterfall at the main entrance. How do we bury a water pipe in the rock cliff? Simple, Henry said, it would be pre-cut and formed steel that would be placed inside the rock cliff and then welded together. He came up with a design requiring only one weld on the job in a horizontal section large enough for a welder to enter. It was the only viable design and was used to build the waterfall.

In 1979, Henry helped his son, John start his first real estate company. John was 32 at the time and leaving a ten year career at Southwestern Bell and AT&T. With this jump start, John was able to remain in real estate for the rest of his business career.

Henry was also a great singer. After receiving local recognition he continued to improve and received extensive voice lessons from his pianist Mrs. Matheny. He was also born with a natural tenor voice. Perfect diction was something Henry always strove for, especially in his singing performances. It became one of his trademarks. The Highland Park Lions Club put on a variety show for several years in the 50's and he was a main attraction. He also sang in the choir at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church.

In retirement, Henry helped start Xspeedite Printing Services for his son John and his grandson John Jr., who later became President of St. Louis Litho, a large printing company providing labels to the distilled spirits industry, including Jack Daniels, Jose Cuervo and many more.

Henry was of the old school and believed a man's word was his bond. His favorite story was of his father. When Henry was 10, his father needed a new car, but it was November and the corn crop was not due until spring. They rode in to New Braunfels to the dealership to window shop. While they were looking the owner approached Joe and asked if he was going to buy the car. Joe said he couldn't until his corn crop was sold in the spring. The dealer told Joe to take the car and pay him in the spring. They shook hands and Henry and Joe drove home in the new car. Not a single paper was signed. In May he rode with his father again when he paid the dealer in full. This incident influenced him for the rest of his life.

In his later years, we asked Henry how it was to live in the time of Prohibition. He advised that he drank whiskey and it was no big thing to get whiskey in New Braunfels. Everyone made it. Henry would hide his pint in the spare tire holder on the back of his car. He reported there was one really good bootlegger in New Braunfels who made good whiskey. Henry ended up dating the bootlegger's daughter. He said; "She wasn't much of a looker, but when you took her out, she came with a pint of whiskey."

Henry loved spending time with the family, hearing about their lives and sharing stories about his life. His stories were always interesting. During his married life with Tillie, he would travel to her parent's farm in LaVernia every Saturday to meet with her extended family for dinner. He loved to sit in the yard at the farm house and eat watermelon with his in-laws and nieces and nephews. One of his favorite pastimes

was hunting with his brother-in-law Bennie Dudek, on the Lyssy Ranch is Encinal. Every morning, he would wind the German clock he received from his brother and sister-in-law, Cliff and Lorene Bray. He said it reminded him so much of the old days. At age 93 he could still name the children in his grade school class. He was proud of every one of his descendants and would inquire about each of them with equal enthusiasm. He was especially proud of his great grandchildren. He spoke often and fondly of his wife, Tillie, and their life together. He always missed her and looked forward to the day when they would be together again. His prayers were finally answered.

On July 5, 2007, Henry broke his hip in a fall. He passed away on July 10, 2007 at 6:15 AM while trying to recover from hip replacement surgery. He never regained consciousness after the operation. He died peacefully, with his family at his side.

Henry was pre-deceased by his parents, his three siblings, Elsie Krueger, Eddie Vogel and Agnes Ott and his wife, Otelia Tillie Dudek Vogel of Adkins, TX. He is survived by his son John Henry Vogel and his wife Kathy of San Antonio, his grandchildren, Megan Barrett and her husband Kenneth of Austin, John Henry Jr. and his wife Karen of St. Louis and Adam Vogel and his fiancé, Mickie Mendez of San Antonio. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Aidan Elizabeth Vogel and John Henry Vogel III, both of St. Louis. In his extended family, Henry is survived by several nieces and nephews. He will be missed by everyone.

A private family service is planned.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 8415 Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX 78229.