Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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May 5, 2008

DICK DWELLE: Man with Athens roots gets nice mention

By Dick Dwelle

A man with his roots in Athens who grew up in a well-known family was the subject of an article that began on the front page of the April issue of the Center Times. It told of the help his foundation has been to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas over many years. The Center Times is a publication of Texas Southwestern.

William Russell “Fritz” Hawn had five brothers: Charles, Arthur, Frank, Verne and Jimmy. The first two to go off to college were Charles to the University of Texas and Fritz to SMU.

Their father, W.A. Hawn, owned Hawn Lumber Co. Fritz’s grandfather, Charles Henry Hawn, had established the business in 1881, a family member said. It continued under Charles and then Charles and son Charles Arthur Hawn and Charles’ son-in-law Ronny McElroy. The business closed in 1998.

Their mother, Edna Hawn, was a staunch Methodist who seldom, if ever, missed church. When asked what the preacher said that morning, her answer was often, “He said you ought to be better.”

In 1930 the family lived at 202 Hawn Street. Later, they lived on the southwest corner of Bryson and Maryland Drive in a large two-story home that had been in the Hawn family for some time before they occupied it. The house is now owned by Dr. Harold and wife Stephanie Smitson. They are in the middle of an extensive remake of the house.

Fritz, who was the second oldest son, and his wife, Mildred, lived in Athens for several years. He had Hawn Lumber Co. build a house on LaRue Street, just west of Frank and Dorothy LaRue. His wife, Mildred, lived there throughout World War II while Fritz served in the military service. They sold the house about 1951. It sold again before Bill and Mary Ann Perryman bought it in about 1957. They enlarged the house over the years, but retained the original part. It serves as the east wing of Mary Ann’s house today, Bill having died in 1985.

Fritz and Mildred established The Hawn Foundation in 1962. Fritz was a very successful builder and developer in the southern part of California. He also had a number of developments in Texas and Georgia and owned property in the southeastern states where he raised and trained racehorses. They lived in Dallas most of their lives. Fritz died in 1995.

Clint Murchison Sr. owned the horseracing track Del Mar at Del Mar, Calif. Clint was one of the nation’s very wealthy men at the time having made his money in the oil business. Clint and Fritz were both native Athenians and Clint, of course, had known the Hawn family for many years. Clint gave the profits from the track to Boys Town for the benefit of troubled youngsters. Fritz and Mildred were living in California at the time. Fritz, in response to Clint’s urging, agreed to serve as president of Del Mar and saw to it that Boys Town benefited greatly from Clint’s generosity.

The article in the Center Times announced a new gift from the couples’ foundation: “The Hawn Foundation has given $1 million to support clinical care and research programs at UT Southwestern.”

It goes on to say that the foundation has given more than $3.4 million over the years. Today, Joe V. Hawn, Jr., son of Verne Hawn, is the foundation’s president. When established 45 years ago, its purpose was to aid charitable, educational, scientific and literary institutions.

Charles Arthur Hawn, a nephew, and JoAnne McElroy, a niece, who are the son and daughter of C. F. and Ollie Jo Hawn, live in Athens. Both of them have children who grew up here. A niece, Sally Hawn Sparkman, and husband, Steve Sparkman, moved from Dallas to Athens several years ago. Sally died in an auto accident four years ago. Their three children have grown up in Athens. Sally’s parents were Audrey and W. A. Hawn Jr. They built the first house in the Hawn Addition just two lots east of Athens Country Club in 1952. C. F. developed the subdivision. In 1966 Arthur and Audrey and their two children moved to Dallas.

The Times article concluded with, “W.R. Hawn was a renowned real estate developer in Texas, Georgia and California, as well as a dedicated philanthropist.

“We are grateful for the foundation’s consistent and magnanimous support and are proud that they have once again entrusted us with a major contribution,” said W. Plack Carr Jr., president of Southwestern Medical Foundation.

Dick Dwelle is former owner of the Athens Review.

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