Harry E. Mach

Harry Emil Mach, of Houston, Texas passed away on Sunday, the 20th of November 2022. He was 82 years of age. Born on the 17th of May 1940, in Houston, Harry grew up and lived his entire life in the city he loved. He attended Queen of Peace Catholic School, St. Thomas High School, and the University of Houston.

In May of 1962, Harry met Cora Sue Dominy, the love of his life, and in February of 1964 they were married at The Church of the Annunciation. Within a few years they were blessed with arrival of their sons.

Harry began to display the attributes of a successful leader, when in 1974, his father, at the age of 58 years, died suddenly. Harry, at that time had a young family, however, he immediately accepted the responsibility of seeing to his mother and his younger siblings. He also took on the leadership of the family business which had grown, and become Mach Corporation. As Winston Churchill said, "The price of greatness Is responsibility”, and Harry accepted this as he pursued a consequential life of purpose. In the years that followed his father’s passing, Harry managed to keep everything going and growing. As busy as he was, he made time to coach Little League, and serve as an Assistant Scoutmaster. Part of his success can be measured by the fact that both sons became Eagle Scouts, an accomplishment for which he was very proud.

By 1992, the company had tripled in size, thus outgrowing the original plant on the south loop in Houston. The decision was made to move to the current location on the north loop, and to change the name to Mach Industrial Group. The third-generation business has grown under the leadership of Harry, his brother, Tom, and Harry’s sons. In 1999 the Houston Business Journal named the company as one of the "Top 25 Family-Owned Businesses”. The company will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2023, and once again moving to a much larger facility on the northwest side of Harris County. Harry retired from the company just earlier this year.

Once their sons were in college, Harry and Cora Sue shifted their focus to become more involved in their beloved community. In the years that followed, Harry served on the boards of Houston Grand Opera, Baylor Research Advocates for Student Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine (BRASS), the St. Thomas High School Foundation, the University of St. Thomas, the Czech Cultural Center, and Steering Committee for Men of Distinction of Greater Houston. He was a member of Greater Houston Sports Club and River Oaks Country Club. Harry and Cora Sue have been very active in their support of the Archdiocese of Galveston – Houston, and in 1997, they were invested in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Additionally, they were very involved with the Houston Symphony, the Alley Theatre, the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, the Baylor Partnership, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, Trinity University, River Oaks Baptist School, The Kinkaid School, Episcopal High School, and The Texas Children's Cancer Center. Harry has been a member of the “C” Club of Houston for many years, and was proud to serve as its president. Harry was honored to be recognized as one of the Men of Distinction in 2015.

An avid and accomplished clay shooter, Harry was a member of the National Skeet Shooting Association, a past president of the Texas Skeet Shooters Association, and a 2007 inductee into its Hall of Fame.

Harry had a number of other business pursuits, but Greater Houston Sports Club was especially dear to him. His good friend and business partner Cliff Moller, says that: “Greater Houston Sports Club became a middle-aged passion for Harry. His efforts resulted in being the reason why that facility, that was on the verge of failure, was able to rise like a Phoenix out of the ashes into what it is now, which is considered by many, one of the best, arguably the best, clay center facilities in the country. Certainly, in the end, I think we were both prouder of the success than we both were of our day jobs. It’s a wonderful thing to feel such passion at this stage in life. Our attitude was always, ‘Second star to the right, straight on until morning’.”

Butch and Steve married two wonderful women, Carmen and Joella. Harry has been heard many times over the years referring to them as “the daughters we never had.” Thanks to them, Harry had the most cherished title in his history, that of “Poppy” to his grandchildren who he referred to as “the Mach 5”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille Merta Mach and Harry Emil Mach, Sr.

Harry is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Cora Sue Dominy Mach; his sons, Harry Emil “Butch” Mach III and his wife Carmen and Steven P. Mach and his wife Joella; his wonderful grandchildren, Priscilla, Bennett, Isabella, Evelyn, and Lillian. He is also survived by his sister, Paulette Marie Mach Palamountain and her husband Bill; his brothers, Thomas John Mach and his wife Kathleen and Richard Joseph Mach and his wife Debbie, and many nieces and nephews.

The Mach family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center for their care of Harry in the recent weeks before he was able to return to his home. They also want to reaffirm to the dedicated employees of Mach Industrial Group and Greater Houston Sports Club that Harry deeply appreciated working with all of you to make these endeavors better, and that he loved being there with you. He wants you to carry on, and he will be there watching, proudly supporting and celebrating your efforts.

Please continue to keep Harry, Cora Sue and all the Mach Family in your prayers.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 29th of November, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis and Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where recitation of the Holy Rosary lead by Sister Lauren Beck, C.V.I., is to commence at half past five o’clock in the Jasek Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 30th of November, at The Church of The Annunciation, 1618 Texas Avenue in Houston, where the Rev. Paul Felix, Pastor, is to serve as celebrant.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family and share remembrances of Harry during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.

We are grateful and proud to have serving as Harry’s casket bearers during the services are Scott F. Basinger, Anthony Gracely, Cliff Moller, Frank Nadolney, C. Kent Osborne, M.D., Christopher C. Saunders, David W. Waddell and David Wuthrich.

Serving as Honorary casket bearers are Tony Brelsford, Jeffrey B. Early, Les Eckert, Victor J. Longo, Keith Mosing, and Fiti Partsch.

The family will gather for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to Baylor Research Advocates for Student Scientists Endowed Fund at Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030; The Trap & Skeet Program Endowed Fund at Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, Texas 78212; The Houston Symphony Endowment, 615 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002; or The Alley Theatre Endowment, 615 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77002.

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