The Judge

He's one of the most important historical figures in the history of Houston and one of the men responsible for bringing Major League Baseball to Houston. Roy Hofheinz, known as "the Judge," left an unforgettable imprint on the city's political and sports landscape. He graduated from the University of Houston law school at 19, was a member of the Texas Legislature at 22, and served as a Harris County judge at 24. Hofheinz later became a popular and, at times, controversial young mayor to a city on the rise during a colorful tenure, in which he helped Houston thrive and become a progressive community, while also having a profound, positive impact on civil rights.

Perhaps his biggest contribution to the city of Houston was the acquisition of the first National League franchise in the southern United States. Hofheinz, his partner R.E. "Bob" Smith, and several other influential figures brought big league baseball to Houston and laid out plans for what would soon become the Astrodome. Known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the first air-conditioned domed stadium changed the way sports was played and viewed across the country.

He was a master salesman, an impeccable leader, and terrific orator and wasn't afraid to take risks. He went against the grain. Without the gumption of Hofheinz, the Astros and the Astrodome may have never existed. Baseball in Houston would have looked dramatically different without Hofheinz's can-do spirit and remarkable vision. "He was just a dynamic, exciting individual that could really captivate an audience," said longtime Astros executive Tal Smith, who was hired by Hofheinz as a staffer in helping to build the Astrodome. "He's the best orator I've ever heard. His presentations were just outstanding."

Hofheinz was born on April 10, 1912, in modest means in Beaumont, Texas. In You Be the Judge by Hofheinz's daughter, Dene Hofheinz Anton, she detailed her father's first money-making project, which entailed setting up a soda pop stand. After serving two terms as Houston's mayor in the 1950s, Judge Hofheinz was lured to join the Houston Sports Association (HSA) by R.E. Smith, who made millions in Texas' booming oil business. The HSA was formed in 1957 by prominent businessmen and lifelong baseball fans George Kirksey, William Kirkland, and Craig Cullinan to help bring a baseball team to Houston, and Hofheinz became a key player because of his political clout and ability to get things done. Kirksey and Cullinan helped organize the Continental League, which eventually led to Houston being awarded a National League expansion franchise in 1960.

With the Astrodome being built for $35 million, the Colt .45s of the National League played their first game on April 10, 1962, the date of the Judge's 50 birthday. There was no better way to blow out the candles than by watching Houston beat the Chicago Cubs 11–2 on that day at Colt Stadium, the makeshift facility in the parking lot of what would become the Astrodome. The Astrodome opened to much fanfare in 1965, and the Astros were born. Hofheinz continued to be the Astrodome's biggest promoter and was one of the key members in the introduction of an artificial playing surface in the Astrodome now referred to as Astroturf. During his time as owner of the Astros, his vision created an excitement for baseball in Houston that laid the foundation for the great success of the franchise.

Former Astros pitcher Larry Dierker said Hofheinz was so convincingly persuasive that around 1968, when the team couldn't get a sponsor for its pregame radio show, he talked players into doing the interviews for free, even though players on other teams were getting paid for similar interviews. "They told us we were going to do the interviews, and there weren't going to be any gifts," Dierker said. "Obviously, it created quite a stir. The next day Judge Hofheinz went into the clubhouse and held a meeting with the players and delivered a speech and laid out the opportunities we had as young men to be stars in the community and to build upon that for our baseball careers and future careers and how much it would mean to us having all this good publicity. By the time he got done talking, guys were lined up to go on the show. That was the Judge."

Ever the showman Judge Hofheinz developed Astroworld, an...