The Woodlands Recognizes 100th Birthday Of Community's Founder

THE WOODLANDS, TX — The Woodlands Township is recognizing the 100th birthday of George P. Mitchell, the founder of The Woodlands community. Mitchell, who passed away in July 2013, would have reached the century mark on May 21.

This year is a milestone year for the Woodlands community, too, which celebrates its 45th year in existence. Mitchell was there in October 1974 to celebrate the grand opening of The Woodlands.

“This exceptional community that we enjoy as residents is the result of one man’s extraordinary vision of the ideal place to work, play, live and prosper, and that man is Mr. George Mitchell,” says Township Chairman of the Board Gordy Bunch. “On behalf of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors and employees, we would like to take a moment of thanks and celebrate a wonderful man on his 100th birthday.”

Mitchell, who was a 1940 graduate of Texas A&M University, envisioned a forested community where residents could live, work, play and learn, combining environmental preservation to the mix.

The oil legend began acquiring land north of Houston in the early 1960s, and ultimately set up his company in the community he created.

Mitchell eventually acquired 27,000 acres of forested land to develop a place for mixed-income residential development with jobs and amenities nearby, while preserving the East Texas forest and other natural resources that covered. Mitchell would one day call The Woodlands his most satisfying achievement.

"He had the right mix of vision, optimism and tenacity, and a love for his fellow man," the Mitchell family says on the GPM Foundation website. "There's no doubt that he helped make this world a better place."

Forty-five years after its founding, The Woodlands has over 2,000 businesses, a residential population of approximately 118,000 people, and has millions of visitors each year for shopping, dining and entertainment.

The Woodlands features one of the nation's busiest outdoor performing arts and entertainment venues that carries his wife's name, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Mr. Mitchell was the founder and strong believer of Interfaith, which serves thousands of residents each year.

Recently, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors passed Resolution 007-19 in support of Texas House Bill 2571 that would further honor the legacy of Mr. Mitchell by designating the portion of Interstate 45 between State Highway 242 and the Harris-Montgomery county line as the “George P. Mitchell Memorial Highway.”

Interstate 45 serves as the gateway to The Woodlands, which over its more than four decades has grown to fulfill Mr. Mitchell’s original vision for a thriving, sustainable community.

House Bill 2571 was authored by Representative Steve Toth who represents The Woodlands in Austin, co-authored by State Representative Will Metcalf and sponsored by State Senator Brandon Creighton who represents South Montgomery County in the Texas Senate. The legislation has passed the Texas House of Representatives and is currently on the Senate local calendar awaiting final approval.

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