Publisher’s note: Margaret Alkek passed away in March, 2005. She and her husband innumerable contributions to our city and lasting legacy live on through their daughter Margaret and her family and friends.
Margaret Alkek
Margaret Alkek was born in Houston, attended San Jacinto High School and met her late husband, Albert B. Alkek, at the University of Texas.
The Alkek name has become synonymous with philanthropy. It is impossible to list the charitable organizations that have benefitted from the Alkek generosity of spirit. Buildings, endowments, scholarships and programs have been provided for the following: Baylor College of Medicine, Brookwood Community, City of Houston, Parks and Recreation Department, Delta Delta Delta Foundation, Episcopal High School, Houston Ballet Foundation, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Houston Public Television, Houston Zoological Gardens, John Cooper School, Kronkosky Library of Bandera County, Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, Museum of Fine Arts, Northwood University, Presbyterian School, Rice University, River Oaks Baptist School, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Heart Institute, University of Houston, Moores School of Music, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center.
Margaret has served on non-profit boards, organizations and committees that include: Baylor College of Medicine, Cancer Fighters, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Hospice at the Texas Medical Center, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Museum of Fine Arts and many others.
Margaret Alkek Williams
The only child of Margaret Alkek and the late Albert Alkek, Margaret Williams grew up in a family where sharing with others was as natural as doing homework.
She has chaired events and served on non-profit boards, organizations and committees including: the Houston Symphony, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, Texas Heart Institute, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Baylor College of Medicine, Cancer Fighters of Houston, Cancer League, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Friends of the Texas Medical Center Library, Houston Ballet, Hospice at the Texas Medical Center, Houston Grand Opera, Special Olympics, University of Houston, Moores School of Music, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas System-Austin.
Along with her mother, Margaret endowed the Alkek-Williams Distinguished Professor at UT Health Science Center at Houston, held by President Dr. James T. Willerson, M.D. They have also provided the Principal Dressing Room, Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, the Margaret M. Alkek and Margaret Alkek Williams Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and an Endowed Chair for the Director of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston.
Both Margarets, mother and daughter, have been honored too many times to document here. Top priority for both of them is family. Margaret Williams has one son, Charles A. Williams, Daughter-in-law, Randa D. Williams and a grandson, Harrison M. Williams.