Algur Meadows

Donor: Meadows Foundation

Algur (Al) H. Meadows, was born on April 24, 1899, in Vidalia, Georgia, to John M. and Sally Marie Elora (Daily) Meadows. In 1915, he graduated from Vidalia Collegiate Institute and later attended Georgia and Alabama Business College and Mercer University. After leaving Mercer to travel the south, Al worked with Standard Oil Company in Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1921 to 1929 and concurrently earned a law degree from Centenary College. During this time, he married Virginia Stuart Garrison, with whom he had one son. By 1936, he founded the General Finance Company and the General American Oil Company. Located in Dallas, Texas, the oil company expanded throughout fifteen states, Canada, and Spain. While working in Spain, he acquired numerous paintings by artists such as El Greco and Goya. During 1948, Al and Virginia established the Meadows Foundation to perpetuate their joy of giving to others. Today, the Foundation has generously benefited numerous Texas organizations and institutions. Upon Virginia’s death in 1961, he donated their art collection and a million-dollar endowment to Southern Methodist University to establish a museum of Spanish art. Al served on numerous boards of directors and as a member of many professional, civic, and social organizations. Al passed away June 10, 1978.