2004-10-20

Center for Public History, University of Houston; University of Houston Libraries, University of Houston

This is an oral history interview with Ben F. Love conducted as part of the Houston History Project. Ben F. Love is retired chairman and CEO of Texas Commerce Bank, holding that position from 1972 until 1989. He was born in 1924 in Vernon, Texas and grew up in Paris, Texas. He flew twenty-five bombing missions over Europe as a captain in the Eighth Air Force during the World War II before receiving a bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Texas in 1948. Following graduation, he founded a paper products manufacturing business in Houston in 1949. Several years later he merged the company with a New York Stock Exchange company and in 1965 became president and CEO of River Oaks Bank and Trust. After creating a successful bank there in a year and half's time, in 1967 he moved on to Texas Commerce Bank in the Gulf Building in downtown Houston. He first served as senior vice president of the metropolitan division there, was made president in December 1969, and finally took over as chairman and CEO in December 1972.  Beginning in 1977, Love set out to plan the construction of a new building for his expanding business. The completed seventy-five-story Texas Commerce Tower, which opened in 1982, became the tallest bank building in the world and represented the Texas Commerce banking organization's commitment to the region and the state. Although retired now, Love still has an office in Texas Commerce (Chase) Tower downtown. Interviewer: Leigh Cutler.

interviews

Business; Love, Benton F.

Houston, Texas

Oral Histories from the Houston History Project

University of Houston Libraries Special Collections

English

Collection
University of Houston Libraries Special Collections
Houston History Archives
Oral Histories from the Houston History Project

Preservation Location: ark:/84475/pm9146r1920