Following In His Footsteps: The True Legend of Mayer Halff

If you’re familiar with Halff, you’ve likely heard stories of the man who shaped the firm into what it is today. Dr. Albert H. Halff left an indelible mark on our firm with his heart for servant leadership and desire to pursue excellence in every endeavor.

But what about the people who shaped him? Their story stretches from the northeast corner of France to the Wild West of Texas and beyond, and the legends contained therein tell of a family that worked hard enough to build something truly special.

In 1851, a 15-year-old boy named Mayer Halff bid adieu to his family in Lauterbourg, France, and headed to America. He set off to join his cousin, Adolphe Halff, who had escaped the economic and political uncertainty of Europe by settling in Texas.

Portrait of Mayer Halff, Dr. Albert H. Halff’s grandfather

Mayer worked as a merchant for several years and was eventually joined in business by his younger brother, Solomon. The pair founded M. Halff & Brother in San Antonio, which by 1873 had grown to become one of the Southwest’s leading dry goods operations.

While Solomon concentrated on running their store, Mayer turned his attention to cattle. His keen business sense served him well, and he soon acquired ranches across New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and the Dakotas. In Texas alone, Mayer controlled almost a million acres, and at one time he was the third largest cattle owner in the United States.

Halff Brothers Ranch, Frio County, Texas

By the end of the 19th century, Mayer introduced his son Henry to the West Texas range. The boy took to the work quickly, and in 1901, father and son went into business together, splitting ownership of Halff’s West Texas and Colorado properties equally.

A few years later, in 1905, Henry Halff married Rosa Wechsler of New York City. The urban Rosa adapted well to rural life in Texas, and she and her husband would frequently ride the range together. The couple had four children: Hal, Ernestine, Betty and Albert.

Halff House, San Antonio, Texas

Just before he died in 1905 and left his cattle empire to Henry, Mayer Halff addressed the young employees of M. Halff & Brother in San Antonio:

“Talking about success, I have a message for you each. Don’t tell me opportunity is for the rich, boys — it is for you … who are grappling with the hard facts of life, for you whose soul is in the struggle.

“Character and standing can never be taken away from you … In my life I have succeeded beyond my expectations. I only wish for each of my boys that he will follow in my footsteps.”

Forty-five years later, in 1950, Mayer’s grandson, Albert H. Halff, founded a one-man engineering firm in Dallas that would grow into the largest independent infrastructure consulting firm in Texas. Halff now has more than 30 offices spread across five states and counting, and its more than 1,500 employees carry on the legacy of a legendary Texas family.

Safe to say, Mayer’s boys did all right.

Dr. Albert H. Halff, founder of Halff and Mayer Halff’s grandson