Brownsville, Cameron County
BUILT IN 1940 FOR GLADYS (SAMS) PORTER (1910-1980) AND HER HUSBAND, DEAN ROBERTSON PORTER (1903-1969), THIS HOUSE WAS DESIGNED BY R. NEWELL WATERS OF WESLACO AND CONSTRUCTED BY ARCHER AND HOLDING. IT FEATURES A CENTERED TWO-STORY PORTICO FRAMING A RECESSED, TWO-STORY ENTRANCE BAY IN A STYLE SIMILAR TO LOS ANGELES ARCHITECTURE OF THE TIME. THE PORTERS WERE PHILANTHROPISTS AND COMMUNITY-MINDED BUSINESS LEADERS OF BROWNSVILLE. IN ADDITION TO A LIFETIME OF VOLUNTEER WORK, GLADYS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE EARL C. SAMS FOUNDATION. DEAN BECAME A LEADER IN AGRICULTURE AND FINANCE BY SERVING ON SEVERAL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND WAS MAYOR OF BROWNSVILLE. THE PORTERS ARE BEST ASSOCIATED WITH THE ZOO, HIGH SCHOOL, AND PARK NAMED IN THEIR HONOR.