Greater East End in Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Thomas H. Ball, Jr.

Photographed by James Hulse, November 7, 2023

1. Thomas H. Ball, Jr. Marker

Inscription. Thomas H. Ball, Jr., son of the Rev. and Mrs. Thomas H. Ball, was born in Huntsville, Texas, on January 14, 1859. He graduated from Austin College in Huntsville in 1877. He married Minnie F. Thomason in 1882, and they became the parents of four children. Ball studied law in a Huntsville law office and in 1887, one year prior to his admittance to the Texas Bar, he was elected mayor of Huntsville. He served three terms.

In 1896 Ball was elected to the U.S. Congress. During his four congressional terms he played a key role in gaining federal authorization and funding for the building of the Houston Ship Channel. He returned to Houston in 1903 as the law partner of Frank Andrews. Ball provided many years of free legal counsel and lobbying on behalf of the Harris County Navigation District and earned local acclaim as the "Father of the Port." The town of Tomball, established in north Harris County on the Trinity and Brazos Valley railroad which Ball represented, was named for him.

After a narrow defeat in the 1914 Texas Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, Ball practiced law in Houston and in 1923 was appointed Counsel of the Harris County Navigation District. Ball died on May 7, 1944, and is buried in Houston's Forest Park Cemetery.
Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995

Erected

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1995 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10601.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is January 14, 1859.

Location. 29° 44.917′ N, 95° 17.554′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Greater East End. It is on Clinton Drive east of U.S. 90. The marker is located on Port Houston property adjacent to the pavilion and dock for the Sam Houston Boat Tour. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Houston TX 77011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Houston's Deep-Water Port (a few steps from this marker); WasteShark (a few steps from this marker); A Grateful Nation Remembers (within shouting distance of this marker); "Constitution" Bend (within shouting distance of this marker); Hidalgo Park Quiosco (approx. 0.3 miles away); Magnolia Park (approx. 0.8 miles away); Lorenzo de Zavala (approx. 0.8 miles away); Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

More about this marker. The marker is located at Port Houston and the port has limited access of the area through a boat tour. The Sam Houston Boat Tour offers free boat tours of the historic Houston Ship Channel during the

The view of the Thomas H. Ball, Jr. Marker along the walkway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, November 7, 2023

2. The view of the Thomas H. Ball, Jr. Marker along the walkway

year and a reservation is required.

Also see . . .
1. Ball, Thomas Henry (1859–1944). Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Thomas H. Ball, lawyer, prohibitionist politician, and promoter of publicly owned Houston port facilities, son of M. O. (Spivey) Cleveland and Rev. Thomas Henry Ball, was born on January 14, 1859, in Huntsville, Texas. His father, a Methodist minister, had moved to Huntsville from Virginia in 1856 to become president of Andrew Female College. Ball's parents died, and he was left at the age of six in the care of his uncle, Lt. Sidney Spivey, a Confederate veteran, who sent him to private schools for his primary and secondary education. After graduating from Austin College in 1871, Ball worked as a farmhand and clerk and attended lectures at the University of Virginia, where he was elected president of the law class. He returned to Texas, was admitted to the bar in 1888, and was thrice elected mayor of Huntsville, a post he held from 1877 to 1892. He practiced law in Huntsville until 1902, when he moved to Houston.

(Submitted on May 18, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Sam Houston Boat Tour. Port Houston

The M/V Sam Houston has been operating as Port Houston’s public tour vessel since its inaugural voyage on July 30, 1958. This free service offers a leisurely, 90-minute
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round-trip, educational tour along the Houston Ship Channel. Individuals and groups are invited aboard to learn more about the port and maritime industry.

(Submitted on May 18, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 305 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.