Our Alumni
Charles William Goyen (1915-1983) was born in Trinity, a small town in East Texas, and moved to Houston when he was eight years old. He attended Travis Elementary, Hogg Middle School, and what is now Sam Houston High School. After graduating from Rice University, he served in the Navy and taught at many universities including the University of Houston, Brown, Columbia, Southern California and others. He traveled the U.S. and lived abroad in Europe before he settled in Los Angeles. His life’s work includes novels, “The House of Breath”, “In a Farther Country”, and other collections of short stories, “Ghost and Flesh”. His books have been translated into many languages and have better acclaim abroad than in the U.S.
Paul Adair (1915 - 2004) was born in Houston and was nicknamed “Red” for his red hair. He had seven siblings and attended Harvard Elementary, Hogg Middle school and Reagan High School (no Heights High). He dropped out of high school during the Great Depression to help support his family. During this time, for a short stint, he was a semi-professional boxer. Then, he worked in the oil industry before being drafted into the US Army during World War II. In the Army, he was part of the Bomb Disposal Squadron where he learned about controlling explosions and fires. After the war, he worked for the Kinley Company, an innovator for oil-well blowouts and fire control. This combined experience, set the foundation for his success as a world-renowned oil-well firefighter. His reputation inspired the movie “Hellfighters” which starred John Wayne as the main character.
For more information visit: https://authentictexas.com/paul-red-adair/
Dr. Martha Jee Wong (1929 - ), a native Houstonian, is a third generation Chinese American and the first Asian American elected to the Houston City Council. Her history making election occurred on December 4, 1993, when she captured 62 percent of the votes in the District C run-off. In 2002 Martha made history again by defeating a 22 year incumbent to become the first Asian American woman in the Texas House of Representatives. She became vice chair of two committees and served two terms in the House.
Martha has a long list of firsts: first Asian American School Principal in the State of Texas; first Asian-American recognized by the Houston Federation of Women’s Award for Excellence in Education; first Asian American in the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame; the first Asian American receiving the University of Houston’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Wong earned a Bachelor degree from the University of Texas and a masters and doctorate from the University of Houston. She completed her doctorate after the death of her husband, Billy, and had three children in Texas universities at the same time. Dr. Wong’s educational service includes HISD’s Kolter Elementary School principal, Associate Superintendent for Staff Development, Baylor University’s Associate Professor and Houston Community College’s Staff Development Director and Southwest College’s Community Development Director.
Martha has served on the Boards / Advisory Boards of the Texas Asian Republican Caucus, the University of Houston Alumni Association, the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association, the South Central Region Arthritis Foundation (immediate past chair) and the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club (Sergeant at Arms). Dr. Wong has been appointed Commissioner to the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission and is an adjunct professor for the 2012 Project at Rutgers University.
Dr. Wong has received many awards and recognized for her community service by the Greater Houston Women’s Foundation, the Houston Lion’s Eye Bank, the National Conference of Christian and Jews, the Texas Asian Republican Caucus, the Young Women’s Christian Association, the Upper Kirby District, TREK, the Texas Council of Women School Executives, the Chinese Community Center, the Variety Children’s Charity, the Dallas Asian Chamber Women’s Business Forum, the University of St. Thomas, the Galleria Chamber, the Asian Chamber, the Asian Junior Chamber, the Texas Federation of Republican Women and the Organization of Chinese Americans, Houston. Martha will be recognized by the University of Texas's Division of Diversity &Community Engagement with the Community Leadership Award May, 2011 and by the Chinese American Citizen's Alliance with the Spirit of America Award, July 2011.
Martha J. Wong is a unique woman who has truly exemplified the best of two cultures. She has made Houston and Texas a better place to live through her service in civic organizations and on Houston’s City Council and Texas House of Representatives. In her education service, she has made Texas education better for students and educators. Martha has been a key player in bringing people together and providing leadership in untouched areas.
Hogg is proud to have such a distinguished alumnus!