Ben Taub
Encyclopedia
Ben Taub philanthropist and medical benefactor, fourth child of Jacob Nathan Taub, was born in 1889 in Houston (Texas
, USA
).
His father immigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1882 and became a tobacco wholesaler. Taub grew up in Houston, where he attended Welch Preparatory School. During World War I
, he was a captain and served in France. He returned to Texas and expanded the family business, later becoming a real estate developer. At one time he served on the boards of directors of twenty-three institutions, including an investment firm, two banks, an insurance company, and four universities.
In 1936, Ben Taub donated thirty-five acres to establish a permanent campus for the University of Houston
. In 1943, he was instrumental in encouraging Baylor College of Medicine
to move to the Texas Medical Center
in Houston. As chairman of the board of Jefferson Davis Hospital, he and Michael E. DeBakey
made Jefferson Davis Hospital a teaching facility for Baylor College of Medicine
, a relationship that continued after the creation of the Harris County Hospital District
.
Taub never married and spent his time visiting patients in the county hospital. For years he helped run the DePelchin Faith Home
for homeless children. He worked with the Pauline Sterne Wolf Foundation. He was a director of the Texas Medical Center, headed the United Way, gave out scholarships, and sponsored visiting medical professors. He served as chairman of the Jefferson Davis Hospital from 1935 to 1964. When Houston's new charity hospital opened in 1963 the hospital board, in recognition of his service, named it Ben Taub General Hospital
. It became renowned as one of the nation's leading major trauma center
s. Ben Taub died at age ninety-two on September 9, 1982. Baylor College of Medicine opened the Ben Taub Research Center in 1986. In 1990, the Harris County Hospital District opened the new, six-story, 500+ bed Ben Taub General Hospital.
Ben Taub was the uncle of philanthropist Henry Taub
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
).
His father immigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1882 and became a tobacco wholesaler. Taub grew up in Houston, where he attended Welch Preparatory School. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was a captain and served in France. He returned to Texas and expanded the family business, later becoming a real estate developer. At one time he served on the boards of directors of twenty-three institutions, including an investment firm, two banks, an insurance company, and four universities.
In 1936, Ben Taub donated thirty-five acres to establish a permanent campus for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. In 1943, he was instrumental in encouraging Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
to move to the Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
in Houston. As chairman of the board of Jefferson Davis Hospital, he and Michael E. DeBakey
Michael E. DeBakey
Michael Elias DeBakey was a world-renowned Lebanese-American cardiac surgeon, innovator, scientist, medical educator, and international medical statesman...
made Jefferson Davis Hospital a teaching facility for Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
, a relationship that continued after the creation of the Harris County Hospital District
Harris County Hospital District
The Harris County Hospital District is a governmental entity with taxing authority that owns and operates three hospitals and numerous clinics throughout Harris County, Texas, United States, including the city of Houston...
.
Taub never married and spent his time visiting patients in the county hospital. For years he helped run the DePelchin Faith Home
DePelchin Children's Center
DePelchin Children’s Center, founded in 1892 in Houston, Texas, is a nonprofit provider of children’s mental health, prevention and early intervention, and child welfare services...
for homeless children. He worked with the Pauline Sterne Wolf Foundation. He was a director of the Texas Medical Center, headed the United Way, gave out scholarships, and sponsored visiting medical professors. He served as chairman of the Jefferson Davis Hospital from 1935 to 1964. When Houston's new charity hospital opened in 1963 the hospital board, in recognition of his service, named it Ben Taub General Hospital
Ben Taub General Hospital
Ben Taub General Hospital is a hospital located in Houston, Texas within the Texas Medical Center. Opening in May 1963, the hospital is owned and operated by the Harris County Hospital District and is staffed by the faculty, residents, and students from Baylor College of Medicine.Ben Taub is a...
. It became renowned as one of the nation's leading major trauma center
Trauma center
A trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers grew into existence out of the realization that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialized and experienced...
s. Ben Taub died at age ninety-two on September 9, 1982. Baylor College of Medicine opened the Ben Taub Research Center in 1986. In 1990, the Harris County Hospital District opened the new, six-story, 500+ bed Ben Taub General Hospital.
Ben Taub was the uncle of philanthropist Henry Taub
Henry Taub
Henry Taub was an American-born businessman and philanthropist of Hungarian-Jewish descent.Taub was educated at San Jacinto High School, the University of Houston and New York University. He graduated from NYU in 1947 with a degree in accounting.In 1949, he founded Automatic Payrolls Inc...
.