WILLIAM H. NORRIS, president of the Norris Lumber Company, one of the leading firms of manufacturing and wholesale lumbermen in Southeast Texas, has been identified with this important industry since 1890. He was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, April 10, 1868. His parents were Abbott and Caroline (Hoague) Norris, who were born in the same state, where the father followed merchandising. William H. Norris is a member of the fifth generation of the family since their settlement in New Hampshire.

Educated after New England standards, in the public schools of Nottingham and in the Putnam Academy of Newburyport, Massachusetts, Mr. Norris first was employed by the wholesale grocers, Boyd Leeds and Company, of Boston. He was with that company until 1890, and for a number of years was traveling salesman. His uncle, W. B. Norris, owned a mill establishment at West Lake, Louisiana, and it was in this way that he left the road to engage in the milling business with his uncle. This was in 1890, and after three years he located at Houston and engaged in the lumber commission business. In 1895 he organized the Norris Lumber Company. Its capital was placed at $100,000, and he has been president and general manager since the organization. Its business is principally wholesale, with ownership of stock in a number of saw mills through East Texas and Louisiana. The company have five retail lumber yards at different points in Southwest Texas. Mr. Norris is also president and half owner in the Gebert Shingle Company, of New Iberia, Louisiana, the other owner being T.S. Foster, of Houston, and Kansas City. He is a director and stockholder in the Lumberman’s National Bank of Houston.

Mr. Norris is ex-Snark of the Universe in the lumbermen’s fraternal organization, the Hoo Hoos. He is a member of the Thalian Club and the Houston Country Club, and is vice president of the Houston board of education. His politics is Republican. Other fraternities in which he has membership are the Holland Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., El Mina Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married, in 1903, Martha Veazey Cloman, daughter of the late John Cloman, formerly a cotton planter at Belton, Texas. They have one daughter, Lucile.