James
Elkins, the son of the sheriff of Walker County, was born in Huntsville,
Texas, on 25th September, 1879. After graduating from the University
of Texas, Elkins returned to Huntsville to become a lawyer. He also
served as county judge of Walker County (December, 1903 - January,
1905).
In
1915 Elkins met William
Vinson.
Two years later the two men
joined forces to establish the law firm of Vinson and Elkins in Houston.
The firm became very involved in the oil and gas industry in Texas.
This included taking shares in oil speculations instead of fees. They
were helped by the growing demand for petroleum during the First
World War. Eventually Vinson and Elkins employed over 150 people
and was the largest law firm in Houston
Elkins
also became involved in several other business ventures. This included
the Guaranty Trust Company (later the First City National Bank). Elkins
was also a director of the Great Southern Life Insurance Company,
the National Bank of Commerce, the District Federal Reserve Bank,
Pure Oil Pipe Line Company, Texas Gulf Producing Company and the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas Railroad.
Elkins
was also a key member of the Suite
8F Group. The name came from the room in the Lamar Hotel in Houston
where they held their meetings. Members of the group included Lyndon
B. Johnson,
George Brown and Herman
Brown (Brown & Root), Gus Wortham
(American General Insurance Company), Jesse
H. Jones (multimillionaire investor in a large number of organizations
and chairman of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation), James
Abercrombie (Cameron Iron Works), William
Vinson (Great Southern Life Insurance), William
Hobby (Governor of Texas) and John Connally
(Governor of Texas). Alvin Wirtz and Edward
Clark, were also members of the Suite 8F Group.
James
Elkins
died in Houston on 7th May, 1972.
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