In less then a month Houston lost three of it all time civic and business leaders. What a loss to the region. First Walter Mischer died in December and then within one day Ben Love and Richard, J.V. Johnson passed away. If you were involved in politics or civic affairs in the 70's, 80's or 90's you knew Walter, Ben and Richard. Not one new bond or issue election was passed without their help. If you wanted to run for office you first went and talked with Walter and Ben and then tried to line up the Chronicle by talking to Richard.

The Chron said "RICHARD J.V. JOHNSON, who kept the Houston Chronicle on a trajectory of growth and improvement despite tumultuous times in a changing industry, died at home Saturday night after a lengthy illness. He was 75."

"BENTON F. LOVE, who led Texas Commerce Bank to prominence and became a fixture in Houston civic and philanthropic circles, died Friday evening of cancer. He was 81. Under his guidance, Texas Commerce Bancshares expanded until it became the state's second-largest lending institution. After mergers with other banks, TCB became JPMorgan Chase, now the largest bank in Texas. Love was involved in scores of civic and charitable activities"

WALTER M. MISCHER 83, passed away December 18, 2005. Appropriately born on July 4, 1922 in Karnes City, Texas. He distinguished himself in construction, homebuilding, real estate development, energy, banking, ranching and civic affairs. Mischer Investments was his principal business operation, which continues today as a major real estate development company. Mr. Mischer was the founder and chairman of Allied Bancshares through its merger with Wells Fargo Bank."

But the obituaries in the Houston Chronicle could not tell the real story about their behind the scenes roles in guiding Houston's civic and political functions. Ben was a tall very articulate banker who could have been a great and very successful politician. He was smooth and very friendly. He ran the largest bank in the city and the bank was tied to law firms and businesses and that gave him power. Walter talked with a lisp but he ran a large bank and a construction company and his banking clients and construction subcontractors were expected to help his political causes and candidates. He was interested in folks that would win and not necessary their political philosophy. That gave him power. Richard ran the largest newspaper in the city and that gave him power also and he and his wife were strong supporters of many causes including Planned Parenthood.

The three could have used their power to keep the city's political structure open to white males only. But they could see the future and took steps to welcome minority and women into the old boys network. Some observers would of course argue that they moved too slow or even did not do enough, but Houston's "welcome to town we do not care where you came from only that you wanted to succeed" was very different then the message from Dallas for instance.

Mischer did occasionally pick the wrong house in a political race. So, he developed the "catch the late train" ploy by helping the winning candidate pay off his campaign debts if he had not been with that candidate in the first place. Love tried to stay friends with everyone in a race and give them each his best advice. So a winning candidate always considered Ben a friend. Richard rode above the fray, saying that the paper had to work with whoever was in office and for the most part left the endorsement of candidates to the editorial board. But most suspected that the Board knew who Richard liked.

I knew all three very well and they were always very nice to me and to my political efforts. These three gentlemen will be missed by me and by the entire Houston area.