Ann and John Bookout, III are shining examples of consistent, quiet, committed volunteerism and philanthropy. Native Texan Ann Bookout began her community involvement in Houston after graduation from the University of Texas in the late 70’s. John, a graduate of Rice University and the Stanford Business School, returned to Houston at the same time to begin a thirty-year career with McKinsey and Company, Inc.
A ten-year sojourn from Houston found Ann and John in London and Los Angeles where they committed themselves to causes promoting education, medicine, the arts and historic preservation. In Los Angeles, John was instrumental in developing a ground-breaking educational initiative called Project Learn for the Greater Los Angeles School District and for which his efforts and accomplishments received recognition from the City of Los Angeles. Ann was a tireless fundraiser for the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital; at the same time, she was serving on the board of the Banning Residence Museum, the historical preservation of the home of Phineas Banning, one of the founders of Los Angeles in the 19th century. Both Ann and John were involved with stewarding the development and maintenance of the Huntington Library, Collection and Botanical Gardens.
Since returning to Houston in 1996, John and Ann have served on the boards of Baylor College of Medicine, The Huffington Center on Aging, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. They also serve on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Ann was President of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary last year and was President of the River Oaks Rose Club during its 75th anniversary in 2003. She also served as Co-President of the Kinkaid Parents Association during the 100th Anniversary of the school in 2006. One of her greatest passions is representing the state of Texas on the board of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.
While maintaining a busy schedule of serving the Houston community, the center of Ann and John’s activities are their three children, John, James and Katherine.