2007

The Honorable Bob Lanier, Scenic Visionary

Our 2007 Scenic Visionary, Houston’s former mayor Bob Lanier, made many contributions to our city during his six years in office. Bob Lanier has always understood the importance of beautification. The Don't Mess with Texas campaign initiated under his watch as state highway chairman is legendary. While mayor from 1992-1998, his Parks to Standard and Neighborhoods to Standard programs served as cornerstones to the extraordinary growth and development that took place during that time. With his wife, Elyse, Bob earned two national awards for clean-up, environment and beautification. He was inducted into the Houston Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Mary Lou Henry, Scenic Hero

Our recipient for the inaugural Scenic Hero award is Mary Lou Henry for her commitment to improving Houston’s quality of life through first-class urban planning. She has been devoted to increasing parks and trees and reducing urban blight and clutter. As a committed civic leader and community volunteer, Mary Lou has served on the Main Street Coalition, Midtown Management District, Trees for Houston, and many more groups that tackle her favorite interest - affecting the scenic beauty of Houston. Mary Lou and her husband Vernon have devoted tireless hours over 35 years to programs of the City Planning, Public Works, Fire and Parks departments.

2006, 40th Anniversary

Gerald Hines, Scenic Visionary

Gerald D. Hines is founder and chairman of the world-renowned real estate organization, Hines, formed in 1957. Gerry’s vision, development philosophy and discipline for preserving the natural environment while creating places for people was born in Houston and has been applied in Hines’ Projects throughout the world. Gerry’s scenic efforts have formed on the business philosophy that “the greatest achievement in development is the development of a community.” To Hines’ way of thinking, good aesthetic design, consistent with a competitive business plan, is critical to the success of a community and its development.

Carroll Shaddock, Scenic Visionary

As a former chairman of Scenic America, founder of Billboards Limited and charter member of Scenic Texas and Scenic Houston, Carroll Shaddock is known as a leader and expert in responsible signage policy. As a direct result of his efforts, the number of billboards in greater Houston has declined from 11,000 and 1980 to 3,600 billboards today. Carroll was instrumental in the expansion of the policy mission of Billboards Limited, the organization name change to Scenic Houston in 1993, and the incorporation of Lone Star Roadside Council in 1984 and name change to Scenic Texas in 1992.

Bob Randolph, Scenic Visionary

Bob Randolph has worked behind-the-scenes with a variety of civic & business organizations and with city, county and state officials to improve the quality of life of our city, our region and our state. Today, thanks to Bob’s efforts Houstonians and visitors enjoy miles of toll roads and other roadways—free of billboards and other signage clutter.

Eleanor Tinsley, Scenic Visionary

In 1979, Eleanor Tinsley was elected to the City of Houston City Council and then became the first woman elected to an at-large position on the City Council. She served a total of 16 years! As city council member Eleanor made her mark quickly with her 40 years of scenic efforts focused on billboard prevention, reduction of on-premise signage and park development. Eleanor was active at the state level in support of Texas cities’ authority to control local signage. Over the last decade, she has had both an elementary school and a park dedicated in her honor.

Madeleine Appel, Scenic Visionary

Madeleine Appel served for 16 years as Eleanor’s Chief of Staff, working to help ensure the passage of laws that promoted scenic improvements for Houston. Prior to working at city hall, Madeleine spent a decade as a reporter with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and the Houston Chronicle. Through Madeleine’s committed work with business groups, the sign industry agreed to the concept of “scenic districts” and stronger on-premise sign code changes.

Bill Coats, Scenic Visionary

Bill Coats has chaired many city and county-appointed task forces over the years related to improving the visual environment of our region, and provided regulatory expertise to Scenic Houston for many years. Bill has been instrumental in forwarding an urban forestation renaissance in Houston – along roadways, bayous, parks, and underneath utility lines. He has been honored for his work on forestation projects by national and state forestation organizations.

Louis Sklar, Scenic Visionary

Louis Sklar worked for Hines for 38 years and served as Executive Vice President from December 1982 until his retirement in December of 2005. Louis’ expertise in aesthetic design has aided Scenic Houston’s advocacy efforts for over 30 years! While serving on the Central Houston Board, he worked closely with staff in support of the City’s designation of a Scenic District for the area. As part of his work on Hines’ land development, and his board service with Uptown Houston, he played an active role in the scenic improvements of the Galleria.

Mavis Kelsey Jr., Scenic Visionary

Mavis Kelsey, a native Houstonian, has been an integral part of Scenic Houston’s executive board for over 30 years. As the financial guru of the organization, Mavis’ 40 years of scenic efforts have included ensuring that Billboards Limited and Scenic Houston had the necessary office space and financial stability to move its public policy goals and objectives forward. He has provided that same stability to Scenic Texas and the scenic affiliates in other major cities across the state.

2005

Jodie Jiles, Scenic Visionary

Jodie L. Jiles has spent many hours working to improve the quality of life for people in the Houston region. His efforts to promote our city and improve the area through increased scenic, economic, educational, environmental and health care initiatives are widely known and appreciated in our community.

Gary Trietsch, Green Roads Award

Gary K. Trietsch received this award for his leadership in promoting a “scenic freeway system” in the Houston region with landscaping and large-scale tree planting along TxDOT rights-of-way. His partnership with civic and business groups in the Houston area, his continued support of the “Green Ribbon Project,” and his expert landscaping staff, including Dana Cote, Landscape Architect for the Houston District, have set the standard for increased landscape and tree-planting projects around the state.

2004

Mayor Bill White, Scenic Visionary

A valued friend and inspired civic leader, Bill White has championed urban beatification efforts with Scenic Houston for many, many years. The Mayor believes that Houston is America’s great city of opportunity. His initial priorities as Mayor in 2004 included many of the same goals and objectives of Scenic Houston: to increase economic development and attract businesses and visitors to the Houston region, eliminate blight in Houston neighborhoods and address the challenges of air quality through increased forestation.

2003

Sadie Gwin Blackburn, Scenic Visionary

2002

Max Watson, Scenic Visionary

Our 2002 Scenic Visionary, Max Watson, was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. Max moved to Houston in 1968, married his wife, Kay, and had two children, Kendall and Matt. Max is a leader in the scenic conservation arena. His persistence and negotiation skills were key as Scenic Houston, the City of Houston, the Partnership’s Quality of Life Advisory Committee, the Quality of Life Coalition, the Downtown Management District, the Theater District, and the Houston Sports Authority worked toward the designation of the Downtown Scenic District. Max’s leadership, energy and determination continue to be a driving force in Houston.

2001

Ed Wulfe, Scenic Visionary

Ed Wulfe’s clear-sighted vision never fails to enrich the individuals and organizations to which he gives so selflessly. Ed and his wife of eighteen years, Lorraine, share and enjoy their six daughters and ten grandchildren. As President and founder of Wulfe & Co., Ed has set lofty standards for the best in commercial and retail development for over thirty-eight years. His redevelopment of Meyerland Plaza and Gulfgate Center are fine examples of what can be accomplished when projects employ the strengths of the past to create the retail centers of the future.

2000

Cynthia and George Mitchell, Scenic Visionaries

Cynthia Woods Mitchell and George P. Mitchell have set an unparalleled standard for personal accomplishment and volunteer service. The greater Houston-Galveston area has thrived under their philanthropic vision, as have many national and international organizations. It is, however, in their role as preservationists that Scenic Houston celebrates them tonight. Their abiding interest in Architecture and context-sensitive design has preserved an important piece of Texas history. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have championed the idea that incorporating the unique historical, cultural, and environmental qualities of a given place represent good stewardship and sound economic development.

1999

The Honorable Eleanor Tinsley, Champion of Scenic Conservation

Council Member Emeritus Eleanor Tinsley the first woman elected to an at-large Council position in Houston’s history. During her eight terms in office, Ms. Tinsley pioneered dozens of landmark ordinances and projects. Nowhere was her leadership more visible than in the scenic conservation arena, for which she has been an untiring champion of sign control.