Don Sanders, SHSU '58

Industry Impact Award Recipient, 2013

If you are from Texas, especially Houston, you might know the name Don Sanders. 

Don’s humble nature comes from his small town roots - Mexia, Texas. In high school, he fell in love with photography, capturing life in its most memorable moments. This love of photography and art helped finance his undergraduate degree from Sam Houston State University and his MBA from the University of Texas in Austin. His interest in photography and art previewed his later accomplishment of putting together one of the leading private art and photography collections in the country. 

After graduation Don joined EF Hutton & Company as a trainee in 1959 and over 2 decades rose to become an Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors, perhaps the most prestigious investment firm in the nation. Its famous phrase, “when EF Hutton talks, people listen”, was coined during Don’s leadership of Hutton. 

In 1987, Don left Hutton to form Sanders Morris Mundy. Now more than 25 years later, the successor to Sanders Morris Mundy is one of the most successful wealth management firms in the United States with 38 offices managing over $18 billion. Don, together with storied private equity firm Lee Equity Partners and other members of its management, is still a substantial owner of that fast-growing organization. 
Don continues to express himself in other ways. In 1979, he became part owner of the Houston Astros which whetted his interest in sports and sports franchises. In 1999 he, along with Nolan and Reid Ryan, founded Ryan Sanders Baseball which today owns the Round Rock Express (the Texas Rangers AAA Farm Club), the Corpus Christi Hooks, (the Houston Astros AA Farm Club), and other various baseball operations.

Although Don is well-known for his financial and sports expertise, he is equally well-respected as an active community leader. He is the founder of the Houston Police Foundation, was a Director of the Houston Police Pension System as well as serving on the Board of Regents of the University of Houston. He is currently a Trustee of the Museum of Fine Arts as well as a Board member of the Houston Texas Bowl and the Nolan Ryan Foundation. 

Don has a long tradition of supporting area schools and has generously given to the KIPP Explore Baseball program as well as donating the Kinkaid School baseball field and facilities which bears his name. His tremendous love for animals led Don to Friends for Life, a No-Kill animal rescue and adoption shelter where he personally financed a state-of-the-art shelter and facility. Remembering his roots, Don donated and endowed a world-class baseball facility at his alma mater, Sam Houston State University where he was also inducted into the Hall of Honor. In addition, he funded a life-sized bronze statue in Cooperstown that commemorates the All-American Girls Baseball League.