1956 - An organization named "Prevent Blindness" came to Texas just two years after the Connecticut Society was organized as the first affiliate under the National Society to Prevent Blindness. Everett L. Goar, M.D. of Houston agreed to serve as the Texas Committee Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and suggested John Schuhmacher of Houston as president. National Society staff helped to start the various sight saving programs.

Later in the year, Dr. Goar and Mr. Schuhmacher attended a National Society meeting in New York, the National Society headquarters, along with Louis Girard, M.D. and Louis Daily, Jr., M.D. of Houston, John L. Matthews, M.D. of San Antonio, and Lester H. Quinn, M.D., and W. Maxwell Thomas, M.D. of Dallas.

1957 - Mrs. Pauline Outland was employed as State Secretary and utilized her home as the office.

1958 - Governor Price Daniel proclaims "Texas Society to Prevent Blindness" Month (pictured at left)

1960 - Houston optician Jess Bryan became president and provided office space in his Memorial Professional Building. Mrs. Outland, using funds provided by the Junior League of Houston, immediately started establishing programs and mail campaigns for operating funds.

1962 - The “Texas Society for the Prevention of Blindness” name was adopted. The office moved to 4705 Montrose Boulevard into space provided by Houston Citizens Bank and Trust Company. The Dallas Branch was established with Roman Boerger serving a president and C. Harold Beasley, M.D. as medical chairman.

1963 – The Fort Worth Branch was started with Oliver Morey as president and C. Harold Beasley, M.D., as medical chairman.

1964 – San Antonio Branch opened with Mr. Robert Duncan as president and John L. Matthews, M.D., as medical chairman. Amarillo Branch opened with Enos T. Jones as president and Fred Crumley, M.D., as medical chairman.

1965 – The Texas Society was incorporated, state by-laws approved, Lewis C. Heacker of Houston elected state president, the annual conference of the National Society was held at the Rice Hotel in Houston, and the Houston Gulf Coast Branch was organized with the first president being Mrs. Fred Nahas. Mr. Heacker arranged though Ralph Schnitzer, Sr. for new office space in the Century Building.

1967 - In March, TSPB was finally in a position to pay rent, $100 a month at 3517 Fannin in Houston. Lewis Heacker and Jess Bryan personally paid for renovating the office and adding heating and air conditioning.

1969 – The first staffed branch offices in Dallas and San Antonio were opened. Richard E. White of Houston was state president. When Mr. White died, Robert M. Keasler of Fort Worth became president and Jack B. O’Neill of Houston succeeded him in 1972.

1972 – Glen Lively was appointed state executive director after Pauline Outland requested to be relieved of statewide duties in order to work exclusively in the Houston Gulf Coast area. Tragically she passed away shortly after this change was made. Judge Criss Cole initiated that the most prestigious statewide volunteer award be named in her honor, “The Pauline Outland Award”.

1974 - In January, TSPB was divided into four regions for administrative purposes: Gulf Coast, North Texas, South Texas and West Texas. Austin and El Paso were advancing quickly toward branch status.

1974 - In October, the new state headquarters and Houston Gulf Coast Branch office building was purchased at 3211 West Dallas Street. Special funds for this purchase had been generated since 1967. Building Committee co-chairs Edwin E. Garrett, M.D. and Lewis C. Heacker searched for two years for the right building and raised the $197,000 purchase price for the building.

1975 - In July , TSPB’S first staffed office was opened in West Texas in El Paso. TSPB staff and volunteers began training vision screeners in addition to conducting vision screening in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Abilene.

1978 - In October , “Texas Society to Prevent Blindness” name was adopted, changed from “Texas Society for the Prevention of Blindness.”

1980 - The Vision Van Glaucoma Alert Program using the non-contact tonometer was initiated. Importantly, the Galveston Branch was established under the leadership of Bernie Milstein, M.D. as president with funding from the first “People of Vision” Dinner honoring Mr. Harris Kempner.

1982 - The Austin Branch office was established with leadership from Otto Lippmann, M.D., Felix Leal and former Texas state senator, “Babe” Schwartz. The Tyler Branch office opened with Gene Meier serving as president following the first “People of Vision” dinner in the Fall of 1981 honoring Isadore Roosth.

1983 - Ernest Owens named State Executive Director.

1985 - William Carpenter named President and Chief Executive Officer for statewide operations in May.

1987 - Midland Branch office established with donated space in the Texas American Bank Building with C. C. Martin as president.

1989 - Lubbock Branch office established; Jimmie Mason serving as president and in April we initiated “Partners in Prevention,” free eye exam/eyeglasses program.

1991 - Amarillo Branch was changed to the status of “Volunteer Action Unit.” in March.

1994 - January - National Society name changes to “Prevent Blindness America,” and affiliate changes to “Prevent Blindness Texas.” Texas Society to Prevent Blindness remains as incorporated name.

1995 - January - ”Adult Vision Screening” program initiated which added visual field testing using Damato Campimeters and Henson visual field testers along with tests for visual acuity (near and far) and intra-ocular pressure using a non-contact tonometer. In April, Bob Phillips is named President and Chief Executive Officer.

1996 - Elaine Barber named President and Chief Executive Officer of state operations in June. One month later, Prevent Blindness Texas installs a toll-free phone number, 1-888-98SIGHT.

1999 – Prevent Blindness Texas receives contract for screening adults in Texas. Contract administered by Texas Commission for the Blind

2001 - In February, Jim Hubbard named President and Chief Executive Officer. The First Dallas Eye Ball/Partnership with UT Southwest is very successful and in May, Ron Anderson becomes Chairman and serves for 3 years. The Baylor College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology is honored with Person of Vision award and Prevent Blindness purchases a building to become home for the Midland Branch.

2002 – Houston Branch is assumed into the operations of the State office. Shell Oil’s Steve Miller is honored with Person of Vision. State Board is expanded by filling the empty at-large positions.

2003 – State Board Meetings are moved from Dallas to Houston. New 3 year contract signed with Texas Commission for the Blind.

2004 – Rick Powers is elected Chairman, Kathryn Mumaw Vice Chairman, Joel Konkel as Treasurer and Dr. David Coats as Secretary. Conoco Oil’s Archie Dunham is honored with Person of Vision.

2005 – Rick Powers is elected Chairman for second term. Dr. Malcolm Mazo is honored with Person of Vision. Three Branch regions - East Texas, Galveston and Austin - are reorganized and Program Directors and a Regional Executive are hired. Long time Controller, Charles Childs, retires.

2006 – State Office at 3211 W. Dallas is sold and new State Office at 2202 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas 77006 is purchased. President Jim Hubbard celebrates 5 years with Prevent Blindness Texas and Secretary of State James A. Baker III named the 29th Person of Vision in Houston.