Houston Business Journal articles from December 1995

Houston Business Journal archives from December 1995

Downtown redeveloper tackles biggest project with Rice Hotel. (Houston, Texas real estate developer Randall Davis)
December 29, 1995... THEN: Date - March 31, 1995. Headline - "Gambler, developer and urban preservationist." The story: Real estate developer Randall Davis was taking Houston's downtown market by storm, successfully transforming decaying buildings into loft...

Job growth expected to post highest increase since 1990. (employment in Houston, Texas for 1996)(Houston Economic Development)
December 29, 1995... Houston in 1996 will experience accelerating employment growth for the fifth consecutive year, ending at an all-time record of 1,860,900 jobs. The six-county Houston metropolitan area can expect to gain 58,700 jobs next year - the largest...

1996 economic outlook. (Houston, Texas economy)(Houston Economic Development)
December 29, 1995... Oil Price Scenario We end 1995 with a lot of factors working to push oil prices up - low inventory, cold weather and possible sanctions against Nigeria. None of this can overcome the fact that there is plenty of oil to go around - and the...

Energy analysis provide hopeful yet conservative industry forecast. (Houston, Texas oil and gas industry forecasts for 1996)(Houston Economic Development)(Industry Overview)
December 29, 1995... The forecast for the oil and gas industry is optimistic, colored with a bit of caution. "The industry has a lot of opportunity for continued growth and profitability," says Mark Layton, director of energy services for Deloitte & Touche,...

Interwoven issues will confront health care field in new year. (Houston, Texas health care industry forecasts for 1996)(Houston Economic Development)(Industry Overview)
December 29, 1995... Cutting costs with managed care as city's medical providers evolve Houston's health care industry will begin 1996 with a giant question mark suspended overhead concerning probable changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Exactly...

Commercial real estate markets greeting 1996, hammer in hand. (Houston, Texas real estate)(Houston Economic Development)(Industry Overview)
December 29, 1995... Houston's commercial real estate market will see sawdust fly next year in the retail and industrial markets, with a quieter year in the multifamily and office sectors. Several industry researchers offer a look at what's ahead in each...

Banking industry sees strongest loan demand since early 1980s. (Houston, Texas banking industry forecasts for 1996)(Houston Economic Development)(Industry Overview)
December 29, 1995... Banking was a good business to be in last year. As Texas' economy improved and companies expanded their operations, business loans across the state grew by 13 percent over 1994 - the strongest loan demand since the early 1980s, says Alan...

Cliffs Drilling Co. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
December 29, 1995... Nasdaq CLDR 1200 SMITH ST., SUITE 300, HOUSTON 77002 (713) 651-9426 Cliffs Drilling Co, is an international oil service and engineering company engaged in providing contract drilling services on both a turnkey and daywork basis, mobile...

Cellular phone service competition heating up as PCS comes to town. (Personal Communications Services; Houston, Texas)(Focus on Telecommunications)
December 22, 1995... Houston is poised for a new generation of cellular service. Since the birth of the industry, Houston Cellular and GTE Mobilnet have been the only two players in the game. Now, two digital wireless personal communications services have set up...

Minding your business: choosing long-distance service. (includes related article)(Focus on Telecommunications)
December 22, 1995... If your business is like most, you're bombarded with calls to switch your long-distance service. You're promised great savings, great service, great connections, great values. The trouble is, it's often difficult to distinguish real bargains...

Seitel Inc. (Proxy Report Excerpts) (Company Profile)
December 22, 1995... NYSE SEI 50 BRIAR HOLLOW LANE, 7TH FLOOR, HOUSTON 77027 (713) 627-1990 Seitel Inc. operates a seismic database and provides corollary geophysical services to the petroleum industry, The company's DDD Energy subsidiary participates directly...

Atlanta builder enters Houston via acquisition. (Beazer Homes buys Bramalea Homes)
December 15, 1995... An Atlanta-based home builder has entered the Houston market in full force after purchasing a struggling company that was active here for less than a year. Beazer Homes, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, plans to break ground...

Oil company opening chain of gas stations. (RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. to operate gas stations in Houston, Texas)
December 15, 1995... An Atlanta-based oil company is getting pumped up to open a new chain of gasoline stations in Houston. RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. plans to invest $20 million in an effort to open 13 full-service gas stations here by the end of next summer....

Physicians Resource Group acquiring 10 eye care practices for $36.6 million.
December 15, 1995... Sale includes Mann Berkeley Eye Center operations Physicians Resource Group Inc. has agreed to buy 10 eye care practices, including Houston's Mann Berkeley Eye Center, for about $36.6 million in cash and stock. The Houston-based provider...

Saratoga Resources to merge with Connecticut energy firm. (PrimeEnergy Corp.)
December 15, 1995... PrimeEnergy seeks to increase reserves by drillbit instead of by acquisition Houston's Saratoga Resources Inc. has signed a letter of intent to merge with PrimeEnergy Corp. of Stamford, Conn. Terms of the friendly merger were not...

From civil rights champion to sporting goods star. (Academy Corp. owner Arthur Gochman)
December 15, 1995... Arthur Gochman has kept a low public profile while building Academy Corp. into a $350 million retail chain. If there is one thing Arthur Gochman refuses to invest in his company, it's a lot of ego. The owner of Houston-based Academy Corp.,...

United Media: graphics outsourcing firm overcomes early image problem.
December 15, 1995... Company: United Media Corp. Business: Graphics department outsourcing. Founded: 1993. Employees: 125. Sales: $4.5 million. Background: David Cox had an image problem when he started his local graphics outsourcing company two years ago....

ACR Group Inc. (Proxy Report Excerpts)(Company Profile)
December 15, 1995... NASDAQ ACRG 3200 WILCREST DRIVE, SUITE 440, HOUSTON 77042-6019 (713) 780-8532 ACR Group Inc. is a holding company based in Houston which owns and operates businesses engaged in the wholesale distribution of heating, ventilating, air...

Internet providers fail as competition tightens.
December 1, 1995... One files for bankruptcy, others go out of business There may be millions of dollars to be made off the Internet, as Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates says, but tight competition among Houston providers of access to the 'Net has already put a few...

Old-line New York law firm pulling out of Houston market. (Haight, Gardner, Poor and Havens)
December 1, 1995... Haight Gardner attorneys will join local office of Gardere Wynne More lawyers are joining the combined firm of Gardere, Wynne, Sewell & Riggs as one of New York's preeminent admiralty law firms pulls out of Houston. Just two months ago,...

Rising demand in Gulf spurs construction of new manufacturing plant. (Gulf of Mexico)
December 1, 1995... Coflexip building facility to provide specialty tubing for wells in deep water Increasing oil and gas activity in deep water of the Gulf of Mexico is starting to have an economic impact beyond the rig count. Coflexip Stena Offshore Inc. is...

Jeff Davis Hospital goes on auction block - again.
December 1, 1995... Latest attempt coincides with plan to demolish part of Allen Parkway Village Jefferson Davis Hospital has been put on the sales block again, a move that coincides with finalization of plans to demolish a large portion of nearby Allen Parkway...

Conoco goes through a changing of the guard. (Conoco Inc.)
December 1, 1995... Nicandros leaving unique legacy at global oil giant In the international oil business, "Dino" is a nickname that is instantly recognized by people around the world - not only by oil executives from Midland to Moscow but by environmentalists,...

Dunham brings down-home style as new company CEO. (Conoco CEO Archie Dunham)
December 1, 1995... In many ways, Archie Dunham provides a study in contrasts with the man he will succeed as head of Conoco Corp. While Constantine Nicandros presents the image of a cosmopolitan man-of-the-world, Dunham is an affable Oklahoman who feels more...

Vallen Corp. (proxy report excerpts)(Company Profile)
December 1, 1995... NASDAQ VALN 1333 NORTHWEST FREEWAY, HOUSTON 77040 (713) 462-8700 Vallen Corp. is a leading manufacturer and distributor and health and safety products. Total shares of common stock outstanding as of Aug. 30, 1995 7,250,988# Stock price...