Albert Whitaker Currie

 

 

 

Albert Whitaker Currie

21 November 1882 - 15 June 1966

 

 

 

 Bertie Whitaker Currie at 3 years, 5 months
7th April, 1886
Taken at the studio of Jacques Vigier
Campinas, Brazil

 Albert Whitaker Currie
in Cleburne, TX
ca. 1908

 

Bertie (later Albert) Whitaker Currie was born in Santa Barbara d'Oeste, in the state of Sao Paolo, Brazil. His parents were Abram Whitaker Currie and Helen Damm, who both lived in Texas until they emigrated to Brazil.

Bertie's father died in 1889. After his grandfather John Damm died in 1900, Helen sold her property in Brazil and took her boys and her mother-in-law back to Texas via New York.

Helen settled in Cleburne, Johnson County. Bertie (who now went by Albert) attended Texas A & M and studied mechanical engineering for three years; apparently he did not finish his degree but went to work for the new Texas Company, as did Von Rehder. The company soon became Texaco. Von Rehder worked as secretary to the Vice President; Albert was a draftsman and began his career by mapping Indian lands. Von Rehder entered a contest to create a logo for the new company; he designed it and had Bert draw it. Their design, the Texaco Star with the T in it, is recognized around the world.

In a letter dated March 17, 1962, A.W. wrote: "I hope I made it clear that the 'idea' of the trademark was not mine. -- I said I made the finished drawing for V.R. because he did not have any instruments and was no draftsman."

Albert married Lettie Leora Admire of Carrollton, Illinois, on October 18th, 1911 at Carrollton, Illinois. They settled in Houston, where they welcomed the birth of twin sons, John Admire Currie and Albert Domm Currie, on May 27,1916. Albert W. worked for Texaco Houston in the Pipeline department. He transferred to Port Arthur in 1927, and worked in the Engineering department until his retirement in1947. Unfortunately the happy retirement years he had looked forward to were denied him: Lettie died at home on February 16th,1948 of a heart attack.

Albert moved back to Houston, eventually returning to the Golden Triangle to live in Bridge City with son John and his family.


 

MORE CURRIE PHOTOGRAPHS

ABRAM WHITAKER CURRIE

CURRIE FAMILY TREE

E-MAIL

HOME