James Chandler Harbour II Susser Holdings Corporation and the Entrepreneurial Family Behind It
James Chandler Harbour II Susser Holdings Corporation and the Entrepreneurial Family Behind It
About the Author James Chandler Harbour II is the author of over two hundred books, including company histories, family histories, and biographies. He is passionate about the inter-generational transfer of human and intellectual capital to educate, motivate, and inspire today’s and tomorrow’s generations. [email protected] © Copyright 2022 Susser Holdings Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Susser Holdings Corporation. Published by Life Stories Company, LLC, Dallas, Texas lifestoriescompany.com Printed in Dallas, Texas by One Book at a Time onebookpub.com Chad Harbour
Introduction 3 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ 6 Dedication .................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ............................................................................................... 32 Coming to the Land of Opportunity—Louis Susser ........................................ 39 A Humble Beginning—Sam and Minna Unite ............................................... 45 Starting the Family Enterprises—Sam Susser, Sr. .......................................... 53 The Perils of Corpus Christi Politics .............................................................. 61 Susser Success Continues—Sam J. Susser ....................................................... 67 Another Driving Force—Jerry L. Susser ......................................................... 81 Continental Parts Company—1967 ................................................................ 93 Success in Gasoline Alley—$ave A-$ ............................................................. 99 Self-Service on the Rise .............................................................................. 111 Fueling Up 7-Eleven ................................................................................... 119 Saving the Ship, 1986 .................................................................................. 127 A Pro in the Making—Sam Louis Susser ...................................................... 135 Stores, Storms and Southguard—1988 .......................................................... 145 Banking on Convenience—Early 1990s ........................................................ 151 Convenience Stores—An Overview .............................................................. 157 Changing, Growing, Succeeding—Mid-1990s ................................................ 165 Building and Buying—The Late 1990s .......................................................... 175 Secret Weapons—Susser Wives ................................................................... 189 The Long Game—2000s .............................................................................. 195 Going Public—2006 .................................................................................... 207 Finishing Strong—Last Years of the 2000s ................................................... 219 Reaping What’s Been Sown—2010s .............................................................. 233 Making a Difference—Charitable Giving ..................................................... 253 ETP and the Deal of a Lifetime ................................................................... 267 Looking Forward—The Next Chapter ........................................................... 277 Appendix A Firm Foundation—The Forebears ........................................................ 285 Corpus Christi—A Brief History ............................................................. 297 The Jewish Community of Corpus Christi ............................................... 305 Contents
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Introduction 5 Acknowledgments The success of a company is never due to the efforts of any one person—it is a joint venture, and the responsibility for its failure or growth is mutually shared. As it is with a company, so too with the writing of a book. In telling the vibrant, many-layered history of Susser Holdings, many people contributed their time, thoughts, memories, reflections, and insights. Each of these individuals provided a unique perspective as they shared about the many things that Susser Holdings has meant to them and the ways they have connected with and shaped its story—even as its story has shaped their own lives. First and foremost, of course, it’s a story about one family, the family whose name the corporation bears, and the Susser family members are to be thanked for how they made this book possible… in so many ways. At the same time, the success of both the company and this book has depended upon the efforts of a great many talented people, who together make up the history, family, and culture of Susser Holdings. In truth, it is a whole community of individuals represented in the pages that follow, too many to list but gratefully acknowledged all the same.
6 Susser Holdings SAM AND MINNA SUSSER
Introduction 7 Dedication This book is dedicated to the founders of the company, Sam and Minna Susser, who blazed the trail for others to follow. And to the generations of leaders who took up the torch, people like Sam J. and Pat Susser, Jerry and Elizabeth Susser, and Sam L. and Catherine Susser, who have worked tirelessly to take Susser Holdings to lofty heights. To the many clients who have put their trust in Susser Holdings and Stripes, thank you for allowing us to meet your needs and be a part of your life and community. To the stakeholders who have supported us over the years, thank you for believing in Susser Holdings and committing your resources to its success. To the current family of team members employed throughout the various branches of Susser Holdings, thank you for giving your time, talent, and energies to carry the company forward into the bright days to come. And to future generations who interact with Susser Holdings, whether as customers, workers, leaders, or other stakeholders, thank you for choosing to play a role in the ongoing tale that this book can, by necessity, only relate a portion of. You are a part of this story.
8 Susser Holdings There is no big secret, no carefully guarded recipe for our success. We do the right things, the right way.
Introduction 9 It’s as simple, and as challenging, as that. To all who help us achieve this lofty goal— thank you. Sam J. Susser
10 Susser Holdings Sam Susser, Sr. Founder Susser Enterprises Corpus Christi, Texas Our reputation is everything. “SENATOR” SAM SUSSER, SR.* * The moniker “Senator” was bestowed on Sam Susser, Sr. when he was attempting to make a reservation in Las Vegas at the House of Lord’s Steak House for dinner one night. The reservation was declined as the restaurant was booked solid. Susser asked his wife to call a second time and say, “Senator Sam Susser would like to make a reservation for tonight.” The hostess then replied, “Great—we’ll see you and the Senator at 7 p.m.” After this story made the rounds, the nickname Senator stuck. Susser has always enjoyed his nickname.
Introduction 11 The Big Three: Sam J. Susser, Sam L. Susser, Jerry L. Susser
12 Susser Holdings Our reputation is on the line every day, as it should be. We stand by our word, by our products,
Introduction 13 by our actions. They are who we are. And our identity is something I’m very proud of. Sam L. Susser
14 Susser Holdings ‘Cause if you wanna run cool You got to run on heavy, heavy fuel. FROM “HEAVY FUEL” BY DIRE STRAITS
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16 Susser Holdings Looking back, it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come, and to consider everything that had to happen
Introduction 17 for us to achieve the success we’ve seen. What an amazing story, and how incredible to have been a part of it. Sam J. Susser
18 Susser Holdings Our best kept secret is our culture. We want and allow our great people to do THE RIGHT THING EVERY DAY. We
Introduction 19 want the parents of our team members to read what their sons and daughters are doing and be proud of that. Jerry Susser
20 Susser Holdings Susser Values and Character Qualities
Introduction 21 You must be very patient, very persistent. The world isn’t going to shower gold coins on you just because you have a good idea. You’re going to have to work like crazy to bring that idea to the attention of people. HERB KELLEHER, FOUNDER, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES Most entrepreneurial ideas will sound crazy, stupid, and uneconomic, and then they’ll turn out to be right. REED HASTINGS, CO-FOUNDER, NETFLIX Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. STEVE JOBS, CO-FOUNDER, APPLE INC. We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here? STEVE JOBS, CO-FOUNDER, APPLE INC.
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30 Susser Holdings The greatest thing we can produce is character. Everything else can be taken from us, but not our character. HENRY FORD
Introduction 31 Introduction Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. —John D. Rockefeller Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. —Henry David Thoreau Great leaders are usually wonderful storytellers. —Anonymous This book chronicles the remarkable transformation of a small, family-owned business into a nearly seven-billion-dollar company that forever changed an industry—so it is inherently a story of success. But the story of Susser Holdings is much more than that. It’s about people, heritage, and service. It’s about innovation and technology. It’s about giving back to others in the community and leaving a legacy that changes things for the better. The following pages are the history of an organization that did not just endure for over seventy-five years but, throughout them, thrived because of a foundation of character and values and a culture of excellence personified by its leaders and dedicated employees. This book is the story of how, since the founding of this company, it has remained intimately intertwined with the interests of the workers, customers, and communities it serves. It has always been the hallmark of this family-owned business to strive for the best and refuse to settle for anything less. Few, if any, have done this better than Susser Holdings. Speaking of Sam L. Susser when he was named Retail Leader of the Year in 2014, Sonja Hubbard, then CEO of E-Z Mart Stores, offered praise that is representative of the appreciation the Sussers and their teams have generated in
32 Susser Holdings their stakeholders and competitors alike: “Sam Susser has always represented so much of what is right about the convenience store industry. He is a fierce competitor and unyielding strategist who is always thinking well into the future.” She went on, “His business acumen and accomplishments speak for themselves, and yet he remains one of the most humble and truly genuine people I know. He has always been open to sharing and supporting our industry, which has benefited us all.” Like many organizations, the company has grown beyond the founders’ wildest dreams—expanding its geographic footprint, outlasting competitors, developing new offerings, and innovating creative solutions, all while providing extraordinary service and garnering remarkable loyalty from both employees and customers. And it all started back in the 1930s, in Texas, with a young married couple and an unusual inheritance. In short, Susser Holdings embodies the American dream of rising from modest beginnings to accomplish great things. •It’s been a long, incredible trip from those early days to where we are now. And we continue to look to a bright future. —Sam J. Susser There are many business lessons you can learn from golf. In golf, there are no referees or umpires. It is up to you to follow the rules and do the right thing—even when no one is looking. —Sam L. Susser Maybe combining integrity, hard work, talent, and vision isn’t a surefire recipe for success… but it’s about as close as you can get. —Jerry L. Susser
Introduction 33 Like many things with grand futures, Susser Holdings had a humble beginning. Sam and Minna Susser surely could not have imagined what the company they started would grow to be when in 1938 Sam took over operation of two service stations that Minna had inherited and began selling fuel to local companies. Then, as now, many businesses failed to thrive. Over the decades to come, there would be every imaginable hurdle to pass: economic depressions and recessions, wars, changes to the petroleum, transportation, and retail industries, We look back to see where we’ve come from. We look forward to see where we’re going. If we are doing things right, either direction is a source of pride. —Sam L. Susser Jerry L. Susser, Sam J. Susser and Sam L. Susser A Family Tradition for Three Generations technology breakthroughs, culture shifts, legal and political upheavals, and more. Yet, through it all, the family business that Sam and Minna began would endure—and not just endure, but thrive. For three generations, it has been passed down, carefully shepherded and nurtured, even as opportunities have been aggressively seized. Although many other familyowned businesses have perished, the Susser family has managed to grow their company while staying true to the values, hopes, and pride that helped to form it. This is a family legacy of the best kind.
34 Susser Holdings Entrepreneurial Drive There are few things as prototypically American as the entrepreneurial drive. This nation has long billed itself as the land of opportunity, the place where anyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. The rags to riches story, rising from poverty to wealth and success, has been a popular theme in films, plays, and novels for centuries. And the annals of American history are filled with true stories of people who worked hard to earn their own success rather than have it handed to them, a key part of the American dream—even some of the nation’s most affluent and influential individuals. So, too, is the American story one of immigration, of the many people coming to this land with hopes for a better life and a brighter future… many rivers all flowing into one. The story of the Susser family is a tale of the grit, determination, sacrifice, and forward-thinking that is necessary for the American dream to come to pass. It is never easy, and even the greatest efforts do not guarantee success. But through the entrepreneurial drive of Minna and Sam Susser, and then succeeding generations, Susser Holdings has made its mark on the industry and has risen above its humble origins to achieve true success. Each generation has led with dignity and innovation, expanding the family enterprise and looking to the future. When one considers the company’s eighty-one-year history, one can see countless examples of the times that integrity, confidence, and diligence has made the difference and allowed the business to pass through the fire and emerge on the other side—stronger than before. When it comes down to it, Susser Holdings Corporation is about more than products, services, expansion, or financial success. It’s about family, identity, and an entrepreneurial spirit that is still shining bright. When it comes to things like process, we are always looking to improve. When it comes to our values, the best we can do is to carry them forward. —Sam L. Susser
Introduction 35 Susser Holdings Corporation was founded, developed, and expanded over the past eightplus decades by innumerable people who each contributed something unique and valuable. This is their story. Like many American stories, this tale begins on another shore, with people dreaming of opportunity in a new land and willing to work hard to see it come to pass. Starting in 1927 Louis & Sarah operated the SUSSER DRY GOODS STORE in Bishop, Texas near the King Ranch Typical Texas dry goods store in the early 1900s. Source: www.bishoptx.com
36 Susser Holdings Company Taglines Right on the Corner. Right on the Price. Circles are out. Stripes are in.
Introduction 37 Fast, Fun, Friendly and Delicious
38 Susser Holdings For generations, America has served as a beacon of hope and freedom for those outside her borders, and as a land of limitless opportunity for those risking everything to seek a better life. Their talents and contributions have continued to enrich our country. SPENCER BACHUS
Coming to the Land of Opportunity—Louis Susser 39 Coming to the Land of Opportunity— Louis Susser The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American dream. —Tommy Hilfiger The American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor. —Julian Castro Louis (Chaim Leib) Susser was born January 15, 1886 in Lepel, Russia (now Belarus) to Philip (Feibush/Feivel) and Marsha (Masha) Susser, both of whom were also born in Lepel, Russia. He had an older brother, Max (Mendel), born on August 15, 1877 or 1878 and two younger brothers, Sam (Solomon), born between March 15 and April 14, 1890, and Jack A., born October 15, 1882. All immigrated to the United States at some point. Solomon and Max stayed in the northern states, but Jack ended up in Butte, Montana, operating a barber/beauty salon. Jack died in 1952, preceding his older brothers in death. Lepel, also spelled Lepiel, is located in an area that is now in Belarus, along a highway connecting Minsk and Vitebsk. In the 15th century, the town belonged to the Grand Lithuanian Dukes, but in 1439 they gave it to the Vitebsk Roman Catholic Church, and it was subsequently put under the control of the Vitebsk Cathedral. In 1563, Vitebsk could no longer protect the land, and it was donated to King Sigismund II Augustus, who gave it to Yury Daragastaisky. Eventually it fell into the hands of Stefan Batoy who returned it to the Vitebsk government. The Vitebsk government still could not protect the town and eventually sold it to Lew Sapieha, a leading politician. In 1609, Sapieha donated it to Bernardine nuns in Vinius.
40 Susser Holdings After the annexation of Belarus to Russia in 1772, Lepel remained in Lithuania, but in 1793 it joined Russia. In 1802 the town became the center of the region. The town suffered greatly when passing French troops destroyed many buildings during Napoleon’s attempt to invade Russia in 1812. By 1880, the town had become predominantly Jewish. By 1913, on the eve of World War I, it had lost its position as a major trade center, becoming a quiet little town. This is what it was like by the time Louis was a grown man. Louis and Sarah Susser Arrive in Texas Louis Susser married Sarah (Chana) Ploxin on February 27, 1912 in Odessa, Russia. She had been born to Abraham and Rose Gossen Ploxin in 1891 in either Driben or Ladi, Russia (now Belarus). Louis and Sarah’s first child, a daughter named Mary Ann (Marion), was born in 1913 in Russia. According to family lore, Louis’s cousin, Nathan Gossen, worked for California Fruit Company at the time and was living in Galveston, Texas. As the story goes, he wrote a letter from the United States back to the family, which Louis read: “Life is good in Texas. Come with your family and we will have a good life.” However, this legend may be inaccurate, as immigration records show that Nathan and Louis immigrated together, on the same ship, on December 14, 1913. They immigrated aboard the Chemnitz, which was a class of steamer that had ample space for steerage passengers and for large quantities of grain and cotton. The ship docked in Galveston. Conflicting reports exist as to whether Louis’s wife and daughter accompanied him on the same voyage or joined him at a later date Lubbock San Antonio Galveston Corpus Christi
Coming to the Land of Opportunity—Louis Susser 41 after he had saved funds for their passage, but records list Sarah’s immigration date as 1913, the same year as her husband. Their son, Sam Susser, was born July 4, 1915 in San Antonio. Two more daughters—Lucille, born on May 9, 1917, and Ruth Rachel, born October 25, 1918—later joined the family. Both were born in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Although not a U.S. citizen, Louis Susser registered for the draft in World War I. In Texas, Louis worked with his cousin Nathan, delivering fruit and vegetables to neighbors in the area. Over time, Louis realized he did not like the produce business and preferred the retail side. At the time there was an oil boom in Slaton, Texas, south of Lubbock, and he opened a dry goods store there. In 1927, following a drought and an oil bust that devastated the economy and wiped out the store, Louis and Sarah fled their creditors and eventually made their way to Bishop, Texas. They had stopped in San Antonio and taken out a $100 loan from the Gossens, their cousins, which allowed them to restart with a pushcart and ultimately open a new store, Susser Dry Goods Store, close to the King Ranch. It operated for a number of years, and they opened up another dry goods store at 1920 East Main Street. The store was on the first floor of a two-story building, with porches on each floor, and the family lived above the establishment. Each child had chores to help in the family business and around their small abode. Bishop was a planned town along the railroad that was laid out in south Texas in 1910 by F.Z. Bishop, an insurance agent turned promoter, and agriculture was the main economic activity in the area. In November 1939, the family moved to 1726 Santa Fe Street in Corpus Christi. Sarah became active in B’nai Israel Auxiliary, Eastern Star, and the Pioneer Woman’s Association. The couple lived at 433 Southern in their later years.
42 Susser Holdings Corpus Christi was founded as a trading post in 1839 by Col. Henry L. Kinney and was named in 1846 after the bay. It was the scene of Mexican War operations and American Civil War blockade skirmishes. The arrival of the railroads in 1881-1909 stimulated a land boom, but the exploitation of gas beginning in 1923 and the development of a deep-water port in 1926 would lay the foundation for its development as a modern city. The port, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, handles bulk cargoes, including grain, cotton, ores, petroleum, and raw materials. In 2020, the Port of Corpus Christi was the number one exporter of energy and the third biggest port (in terms of tonnage) in the United States. The discovery of the Saxet (Texas spelled backwards) oil field in 1939 would bring even further prosperity and development to the region. When World War II started, a huge Naval Air Station was built there, as well as an army depot. The Texas Baptist General Convention built a satellite campus there in 1947 which became Texas A&M – Corpus Christi in 2002. As a boy, their only son—Sam Susser— received early exposure to the ins and outs of running a family business. His chores included sweeping the floors and organizing items in the store. Saxet Oil Field Sam would later establish the Susser family as a prominent part of Corpus Christi’s citizenry and community through his entrepreneurial efforts.
Coming to the Land of Opportunity—Louis Susser 43 Corpus Christi in the early 1920s
44 Susser Holdings Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. HENRY DAVID THOREAU
A Humble Beginning—Sam and Minna Unite 45 A Humble Beginning— Sam and Minna Unite Big things have small beginnings. —T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia When you consider the longevity and success of an enduring marriage, the natural response is to go back to the beginning, to consider the origins that somehow led to a lifetime of devotion and support. What laid the foundations that would be built on for many decades to come? What was the connection, the inspiration, or the spark that would prove so long-lasting? Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. —Thomas Edison When looking at the origins of a company, the same questions can be asked. After all, a company is made up of people, and the really successful ones have a history that they embrace—a story about who they are and where they came from. It’s no different with Susser Holdings. A foundation was laid early on, through the efforts of dedicated individuals who wrote the early chapters of the ongoing story of the company. At the time, they probably could not have imagined what their choices and actions would lead to. The story of this long-lasting company and the story of a long-lasting marriage both find their foundation being laid here, with Sam and Minna Susser. Born in 1915 in San Antonio, Sam Susser attended school in Slaton, Texas until the family moved to Bishop in 1927. Bishop is a small town a little farther • inland, about 35 miles from Corpus Christi, that borders the King Ranch. Sam finished his high school education in Bishop. During his boyhood summers, he
46 Susser Holdings worked as a soda jerk and also in a Bishop cotton gin as a “suction man.” This job required someone who was strong enough to handle the big suction pipe that moved the raw cotton from the wagons into the gin machines. In the 1930s, as Sam was attending high school, the little community of Bishop had a population of only about 953. A local doctor gave Sam a tennis racket at one point and encouraged him to learn the sport, and after Sam did, he discovered that he had a real talent for it. In high school he played on the tennis team and became a very accomplished player who won the state doubles championship during his senior year. If he was better at anything in those days, it was football—he claimed to be the second most talented football player ever to have graduated from Bishop High School, after Ronnie Bull who played professional football. An all-around natural athlete, Sam was captain of the football, basketball, and tennis teams—and also served as president of the senior class of 1932. He broke his leg playing in the backfield during the last football game of his senior year. At least, he figured, he got to play the whole season. After graduating from Bishop High School, he attended the Texas College of Arts and Industries in Kingsville, Texas, which required an 18-mile round trip journey from Bishop. He rode this distance to and from the college on a bicycle, showing that he was willing to, quite literally, go the extra mile to accomplish his goals—a determination that would become a defining trait for his company in later years. The school would one day be incorporated into the Texas A&M University System, and today is known as Texas A&M University–Kingsville. At the college, Sam received his degree in English.
A Humble Beginning—Sam and Minna Unite 47 At Texas A&I, Sam continued to play tennis, though he did not play football or basketball. He did, however, flex his performing muscles, as he participated in musical activities, including the Glee Club, Male Chorus, and acapella choir. He was also active in the Footlight Club, a dramatic organization. Sam was as comfortable on the stage as on the court. Upon graduation from college, and without immediately available job prospects, Sam decided to hitchhike to San Antonio to seek employment. A farmer driving by stopped and asked him, “Where are you heading, Sammy?” “To San Antonio,” Sam replied, “to look for a job.” The man gestured for Sam to climb in, saying, “I’ll get you as far as Robstown, and then you go left to San Antonio. I’m heading right to Corpus Christi.” When they reached the fork in the highway, Sam thought about his situation and said, “You know, there aren’t any more trucks coming down the road, and I can find a job in Corpus Christi as easily as San Antonio. I may not get another ride to San Antonio for a while. So… on to Corpus then!” The least expensive lodging he could find to rent was in “The Cut,” a lowincome neighborhood community in Corpus Christi. He rented a room above a nightclub for $1 a week. With cheap lodging secured, the next step was to find a job. With the directness that would take him far, Sam walked into Corpus Christi National Bank and asked for the bank’s president, George J. Merriman. The Merriman family had already been longtime residents of Corpus Christi at that point, having settled in the area back in the 1850s. Merriman agreed to see him, and Sam laid out the situation frankly. “Mr. Merriman, I’m looking for a job.” Merriman replied, “I’m afraid we’re not hiring right now.” Sam addressed the bank’s president: “I have a college education, and all you have to pay me is enough to eat and sleep.” Merriman responded, “Well, how much do you need to eat and sleep?” Sam replied, “I pay a dollar-a-week for a room in The Cut, and if I could get $3 a week for food, I can make do.” Mr. Merriman considered this offer—a full-time employee with a college degree willing to work for $4 a week. Sam was hired on the spot and started as a bank teller.
48 Susser Holdings Now that he had a job, Sam felt more stable, and ready to look for a wife. But Sam’s father, Louis, announced that Sam could not get married until his older sister Mary Ann was married first, as was the traditional custom in Russia. So Sam helped his sister find a mate, and they were married. Now unencumbered by his father’s directive, Sam was free to find a bride. The small Jewish community of Corpus Christi had formed a Jewish Men’s Club that threw monthly parties to invited young Jewish ladies from Corpus Christi as well as other South Texas communities, where they met young Jewish men to get acquainted and hopefully married. At a social event at the club, he met Minna Schwarz, a member of the Weil family on her mother’s side. Following a dance during this event, Sam sat down and Minna came over and told him, “You have my chair.” Sam replied, “No, it’s my chair.” Minna in turn responded, “No… It’s my chair.” Sam, looking for a compromise and maybe to dance with a pretty girl, told Minna, “Why don’t we go dance and discuss who’s claimed the chair first.” This dance began their courtship—and the rest, as they say, is history. For many years later, neither one would admit as to who stole whose chair. The Weil Family: A Little Background Minna’s parents were Julius Schwarz and Hattie Weil. The Weil family is a prominent family in Corpus Christi whose descendants came from the Alsace-Lorraine area between Germany and France. In the late 1850s, at the invitation of his uncle, David Hirsch, Charles and Sarah Weil moved to Corpus Christi, choosing this growing town to settle in because of its harbor and the opportunities abounding there as a budding distribution port for coastal Texas. The Weils became ship chandlers—retail dealers specializing in supplies or equipment for ships. Their business thrived, and they expanded into grocery stores, dry goods, and a bank. They also invested in farms and ranches from their profits. In addition, they ran a mule train from Corpus Christi to Laredo for commerce transportation on the tracks laid in partnership between the Mexican