Joe P. Teas, A Brief Biography
Posted
on May 21, 2015
Joe attended Condit Elementary and West University Elementary in Houston Independent School District. He had an older brother Bill. He reports that he rode a bike uphill both ways in heavy snow carrying a hot potato in his pocket for warmth and for lunch. This would be more believable if Houston had snow or hills.
After graduating from Lamar High School, Joe matriculated to Texas A & M University where he graduated in the top of his class (of four) in Landscape Architecture. The best thing that happened to him at Texas A & M was meeting his wife Wanda at a Rice football game.
Joe served in the U.S. Army reserves for nine years. He was offered a promotion to Major as incentive to reenlist, but Joe declined.
Joe practiced Landscape architecture for 43 years before retiring to simply raise trees. He and Wanda also raised two successful children, a son and a daughter. Joe joined River Oaks Rotary Club in March 1960 and has had perfect attendance every since. He thought perfect attendance was required. When he became President of River Oaks Rotary in 1974 he was the youngest president. They had 156 members and George H.W. Bush presented a program to his club.
Mr. Teas learned the true meaning of Rotary – Service Above Self - when he and Wanda participated in the delivery of ambulances to Belize, Mexico, and Waveland, Mississippi