Houston’s own Mayorbob is observing his 86th birthday this week, and we are taking the occasion as an opportunity to remember a couple of fabulous places where he lived. He first moved to Houston after World War II, after growing up in Baytown and serving his country. He became a successful attorney, working for Baker Botts during the 1950s and establishing his own practice on Washington Avenue in the 1960s. In 1968, he bought a mansion on River Oaks Boulevard and lived there approximately two decades with his wife Mary Elizabeth and their children.
The house has eight bedrooms, eight baths, and more than 13,000 square feet of living space. The exterior brick is from the Walker County Court House, built in 1881 in Huntsville. During the 1980s, the house and gardens were often opened for public view during the Azalea Trail Home Tour. The entryway had a white marble floor and a grand staircase, decked out with fresh flowers from Bob’s beloved gardens. The living-dining room had red walls before it was trendy to have red walls.
After leaving the Mayor’s Office, Bob and his new wife (Mary Elizabeth passed away in 1984) moved to a luxury high-rise penthouse in the Upper Kirby area of Houston. According to Madeleine McDermott Hamm of the Houston Chronicle, Elyse insisted “it had to be comfortable and beautiful, and everything had to be bought in Houston”.
Their new digs had almost 6,300 square feet of living space but only one bedroom, leaving scads of room for entertaining Texas-style. Elyse’s penchant for a red and gold contemporary style was carried out all through the house. You can read Ms. Hamm’s detailed 1995 article about the interior decorating here.
Happy birthday, Mayorbob. We hope you have 86 more.
