Carrington Weems: A Visionary — Herd About Houston

VISIONARY: “Someone with a strong vision of the future.” (Merriam Webster)

One could say Carrington is a living piece of American history. His Great-Great Grandfather, Mason Locke Weems (also known as Parson Weems), wrote the first biography of George Washington. He is the author of the famous fable about young George Washington and the cherry tree.

Grant Wood Parson Weems Fable - Amon Carter Museum

I met Mr. and Mrs.Weems when I was a teenager. Their daughter, Thilde, has been a lifelong friend of mine. Carrington and Mary Ann had three children. Their eldest, Alexandra, works in the Arts and Publishing. She splits her time between the East and West Coasts. Their son, Carrington, is a special effects photographer who specializes in interactive virtual tours. He lives in Texas. Thilde is an MD turned clothing and textile designer living in California.

Carrington is a descendant of one of Houston’s Founding Families. His Grandfather came to Houston in 1858. His Grandparents’ home was in downtown Houston. It was on the SE corner of Jackson and Rusk. A third generation Houstonian. Carrington’s father was in the name of Vinson, Elkins, Weems and Searls. Carrington is a Houston Legend, King of Real Estate deals and Developer Extraordinaire! In fact, when I called him to set up our first appointment he said “that’s a deal.” He studied Architecture at Rice University under the famed Andy Todd. Although he has a degree in Engineering his true love has always been Architecture.

Photo by Houston Museum District. Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Tx.

While studying at Rice, he joined the Contemporary Arts Association. A successful architect and land developer, he was appointed Chairman of the Land Acquisition Committee and Head of Capital Fund Drive for the CAA. Through many social and business connections, Carrington helped the CAA raise enough funds to purchase the land on the corner of Bissonnet and Montrose and give the Museum a permanent home. Carrington built the new museum.

Carrington married Mary Ann Sledge who had a degree in Education as well as a degree in Interior and Furniture Design. She studied at the New York School of Interior Design. She studied under Frank Lloyd Wright as well as Marcel Breuer. They made an unconquerable design duo!

“Home is where the heart is.”

Carrington and Mary Ann lived in a home he designed in 1961. Think Bauhaus/Frank Lloyd Wright meets Texas glamour. Terrazzo floors with high styled furniture designed either by famous architects, Carrington or Mary Ann. The home is an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life although very much in the center of it all. An almost all glass exterior surrounded by forest. A tribute to a full and accomplished life, a house chock-full of collections. Among his collections are model ships and all things maritime. Remarkable oil paintings and watercolors of ships, Texas maps and maritime maps, Audubon prints and books on Audubon. Books on art, furniture, design, architecture and American history. Photographs everywhere...framed family photographs taken over the years.

We visited during a cloudburst:

EMMA: What floats your boat???

CW: I’m a would have been architect.

EMMA: Tell me about the huge deal you put together in the late 1970s.

CW: In 1979 I closed a deal that was, at that time, the largest commercial real estate transaction in Texas. It encompassed 33 blocks of downtown Houston. Today, one would recognize it as the area between the Four Season’s Hotel and the GRB Convention Center. Discovery Green is inside the area and 1 and 2 Houston Center as well.

EMMA: Is that your biggest milestone?

CW: As far as real estate deals, I would say that my most outstanding project was the 3300 acres Harry Masterson and I assembled in 1999-2001. The community now known as Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland..

EMMA: Oh, right! I spoke with Harry about his “training with you.” Harry says he “caught the real estate bug from you.” He described you as “BIG - larger than life.”

CW: He said that? I will never forget how much work he did on 150 different transactions to make that deal happen…

EMMA: Let’s talk about some of your favorite things...What is your favorite music?

CW: Easy. Cole Porter

EMMA: You were married for 55 years. What was the secret to your marriage?

CW: Mary Ann was my best friend. We had so much in common. We loved to travel and visit different places. We had a deal. Every time we went somewhere new we would buy a map or model ship for our collection and she would get a piece of jewelry.

EMMA: What is your favorite building in Houston?

CW: Wells Fargo Plaza

EMMA: I just drove by that building. It’s gorgeous and the second tallest building in Houston. What’s your favorite building of all time?

CW: The Solow Building in NYC. It’s next to The Plaza. It’s also known as The Avon building. 9 West 57th St.

EMMA: What’s your favorite restaurant in Houston and what do you eat there?

CW: EMMALINE. I love it! I eat tuna tartare with eggplant and spilt pea soup.

EMMA: Alexandra told me that when she was a child you took her to a very special ballet performance you brought to Houston

CW: Yes. Years ago I was on the Board of Directors of The Ballet Foundation and The Society for The PerformIng Arts and raised money for The Royal Ballet to come to Houston. Five sold out standing room only performances with Margot Fonteyn and Rudolph Nureyev. They danced together for the last time in Jones Hall.

Carrington loves to dance, listen to music and sing. Diana Krall “When I look in your eyes” comes on his CD player every afternoon at 2:30. The magic sets in...he begins telling me about the many years of shrimping, crabbing and fishing he did with his family. He describes their house in La Porte and the pier where he and his children and grandchildren have spent hours fishing. Carrington told me about a Great Blue Heron who visits him every time he goes out on the pier. The Great Blue Heron is said to bring messages of self-determination and self-reliance.

“THE CALL OF THE SEA.”

Carrington’s collection of Maritime ships will be left to The Houston Maritime Museum. He is so proud of this museum. Even in its temporary location Carrington believes the museum is world class. Leslie Bowlin is the Executive Director of the future 50 million dollar museum. “The museum has over eight galleries and gives guests a comprehensive history lesson on the history of Buffalo Bayou, the Houston Ship Channel and the impact of the port on the daily lives of Houstonians, the economy of Houston and the nation.” (Houston Maritime Museum)

Next February 13th Carrington will be honored by the Sons of the American Revolution. The award is being given to him for his exemplary leadership in the business community, his philanthropic efforts and his support and love for the Arts as well as his lifelong demonstration of the values and principles of the SAR. He will join a short list of Houston Legends who have received this award in the past. One thing Carrington always wanted to do is go to the moon. Upon receiving this honor he will be in the company of Eugene Canon, the last man to walk on the moon among other legendary people.

The Great Blue Heron befriended the right person. Carrington’s Great-Great Grandfather’s fable about young George Washington and the cherry tree represented the important life lessons and morals one should uphold. The SAR honor Carrington will receive February 13, 2020 represents honesty, loyalty, patience, knowledge and the morals we try to uphold as Americans.