Services for Cecil R. Haden, 88, a member of an early-day Houston family and a backer of political candidates, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd.
Haden, who died Monday in his home, was the son of Capt. W.D. Haden, who in 1912 built and operated the first hydraulic oyster shell dredge in Galveston Bay.
In the 1960s, Cecil Haden engaged in a bitter controversy over the continuation of shell dredging in Galveston Bay. Then-U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, D-Houston, opposed the dredging, and a campaign to defeat his re-election failed.
W.D. Haden's enterprise became Bay-Houston Towing Co., the largest of its kind on the Gulf Coast. When W.D. Haden died in 1944, Cecil merged three companies his father had founded into Bay-Houston Towing Co. He sold the dredging company in the late 1960s.
In 1980, Haden spent $600,000 to support federal candidates, including Ronald Reagan, making Haden the nation's top individual contributor to political campaigns.
He invested $182,000 alone in John Connally's 1980 presidential quest, which netted one convention delegate. The former Texas governor, a longtime friend, ''wore the mantle of greatness,'' Haden said.
In 1970, Haden played a role in the famous "Blood and Money" murder case involving the death of socialite Joan Robinson Hill. Although Haden was a close friend of Joan and her father, oilman Ash Robinson, he was named to the Harris County grand jury that investigated the case and then indicted Joan's husband, plastic surgeon Dr. John R. Hill, in her death.
Hill's first trial ended in a mistrial, and he was murdered before he could be retried.
Haden attended Lawrenceville School, Texas Military Academy and in 1923 graduated from the University of Texas. He was a member of Allegro, the River Oaks Country Club, Houston Club, Racquet Club, 100 Club of Houston and Rice University Associates.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Neuhaus, and a son, William Haden II.
His late wife was Laura Breed Haden. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery under direction of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 01-27-1988.
Haden, who died Monday in his home, was the son of Capt. W.D. Haden, who in 1912 built and operated the first hydraulic oyster shell dredge in Galveston Bay.
In the 1960s, Cecil Haden engaged in a bitter controversy over the continuation of shell dredging in Galveston Bay. Then-U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, D-Houston, opposed the dredging, and a campaign to defeat his re-election failed.
W.D. Haden's enterprise became Bay-Houston Towing Co., the largest of its kind on the Gulf Coast. When W.D. Haden died in 1944, Cecil merged three companies his father had founded into Bay-Houston Towing Co. He sold the dredging company in the late 1960s.
In 1980, Haden spent $600,000 to support federal candidates, including Ronald Reagan, making Haden the nation's top individual contributor to political campaigns.
He invested $182,000 alone in John Connally's 1980 presidential quest, which netted one convention delegate. The former Texas governor, a longtime friend, ''wore the mantle of greatness,'' Haden said.
In 1970, Haden played a role in the famous "Blood and Money" murder case involving the death of socialite Joan Robinson Hill. Although Haden was a close friend of Joan and her father, oilman Ash Robinson, he was named to the Harris County grand jury that investigated the case and then indicted Joan's husband, plastic surgeon Dr. John R. Hill, in her death.
Hill's first trial ended in a mistrial, and he was murdered before he could be retried.
Haden attended Lawrenceville School, Texas Military Academy and in 1923 graduated from the University of Texas. He was a member of Allegro, the River Oaks Country Club, Houston Club, Racquet Club, 100 Club of Houston and Rice University Associates.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Neuhaus, and a son, William Haden II.
His late wife was Laura Breed Haden. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery under direction of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 01-27-1988.
Services for Cecil R. Haden, 88, a member of an early-day Houston family and a backer of political candidates, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd.
Haden, who died Monday in his home, was the son of Capt. W.D. Haden, who in 1912 built and operated the first hydraulic oyster shell dredge in Galveston Bay.
In the 1960s, Cecil Haden engaged in a bitter controversy over the continuation of shell dredging in Galveston Bay. Then-U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, D-Houston, opposed the dredging, and a campaign to defeat his re-election failed.
W.D. Haden's enterprise became Bay-Houston Towing Co., the largest of its kind on the Gulf Coast. When W.D. Haden died in 1944, Cecil merged three companies his father had founded into Bay-Houston Towing Co. He sold the dredging company in the late 1960s.
In 1980, Haden spent $600,000 to support federal candidates, including Ronald Reagan, making Haden the nation's top individual contributor to political campaigns.
He invested $182,000 alone in John Connally's 1980 presidential quest, which netted one convention delegate. The former Texas governor, a longtime friend, ''wore the mantle of greatness,'' Haden said.
In 1970, Haden played a role in the famous "Blood and Money" murder case involving the death of socialite Joan Robinson Hill. Although Haden was a close friend of Joan and her father, oilman Ash Robinson, he was named to the Harris County grand jury that investigated the case and then indicted Joan's husband, plastic surgeon Dr. John R. Hill, in her death.
Hill's first trial ended in a mistrial, and he was murdered before he could be retried.
Haden attended Lawrenceville School, Texas Military Academy and in 1923 graduated from the University of Texas. He was a member of Allegro, the River Oaks Country Club, Houston Club, Racquet Club, 100 Club of Houston and Rice University Associates.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Neuhaus, and a son, William Haden II.
His late wife was Laura Breed Haden. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery under direction of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 01-27-1988.
Haden, who died Monday in his home, was the son of Capt. W.D. Haden, who in 1912 built and operated the first hydraulic oyster shell dredge in Galveston Bay.
In the 1960s, Cecil Haden engaged in a bitter controversy over the continuation of shell dredging in Galveston Bay. Then-U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, D-Houston, opposed the dredging, and a campaign to defeat his re-election failed.
W.D. Haden's enterprise became Bay-Houston Towing Co., the largest of its kind on the Gulf Coast. When W.D. Haden died in 1944, Cecil merged three companies his father had founded into Bay-Houston Towing Co. He sold the dredging company in the late 1960s.
In 1980, Haden spent $600,000 to support federal candidates, including Ronald Reagan, making Haden the nation's top individual contributor to political campaigns.
He invested $182,000 alone in John Connally's 1980 presidential quest, which netted one convention delegate. The former Texas governor, a longtime friend, ''wore the mantle of greatness,'' Haden said.
In 1970, Haden played a role in the famous "Blood and Money" murder case involving the death of socialite Joan Robinson Hill. Although Haden was a close friend of Joan and her father, oilman Ash Robinson, he was named to the Harris County grand jury that investigated the case and then indicted Joan's husband, plastic surgeon Dr. John R. Hill, in her death.
Hill's first trial ended in a mistrial, and he was murdered before he could be retried.
Haden attended Lawrenceville School, Texas Military Academy and in 1923 graduated from the University of Texas. He was a member of Allegro, the River Oaks Country Club, Houston Club, Racquet Club, 100 Club of Houston and Rice University Associates.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Neuhaus, and a son, William Haden II.
His late wife was Laura Breed Haden. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery under direction of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 01-27-1988.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
