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still shot from the documentary, The Strange Demise of Jim Crow
Hofheinz was Harris County judge (where he acquired the title "Judge," an appelation he used for the rest of his life) and later mayor of Houston. He was the dominant figure in the effort of the Houston Sports Association's efforts to bring a major league baseball team to Houston. Although the HSA provided the necessary money and the organizational support, the city still needed an new stadium to obtain a major league franchise. Hofheinz dreamed of building the world's first air-conditioned, domed stadium - a project he later touted as the "Eighth Wonder of the World."
To build the proposed stadium, the HSA needed voters to approve a public bond issue. Hofheinz and R.E. "Bob" Smith asked Quentin Mease to gather support among African American voters. Mease and other black leaders agreed to campaign for the bond issue on the condition that the new stadium be opened as an integrated facility. Hofheinz and Smith agreed and the bond issue passed.we would be grateful to hear your personal stories, suggestions and comments