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January-17-2017

Responsibility: The Fourth Most Important Characteristic of America

AHEF believes that a simple yet distinct formula exists in American culture and society to explain America’s unparalleled success. This ingenious system of self-government, designed by the American Founders, has worked incredibly well to help millions of citizens live and work with dignity, peace, and happiness. This formula consists of four key historical characteristics or themes. The fourth is RESPONSIBILITY.

Responsibility – The fourth most important characteristic of the United States is Responsibility. What do Americans do with their unparalleled prosperity from Progress? Americans help their fellow man in this nation and worldwide with acts of generosity and volunteer initiatives. An astonishing 46%-48% of Americans donate and/or volunteer to support various causes and to help others less fortunate in America and around the world. This level of Responsibility and voluntary giving is unprecedented in world history, far exceeding that of any other country in history. This characteristic of Responsibility to help one’s fellow man comes from the American Bible-based view of love or charity and of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Despite America’s great achievements, many groups and educational institutions routinely criticize and teach the American system and way of life as being irredeemably flawed, without recognizing its strengths and achievements. While understanding America’s imperfections is important for improvement, students and citizens must also learn to appreciate America’s successes and contributions. FUPR^TM, America’s formula for success, when combined with its love for fellow man, reflects America’s great Judeo-Christian heritage. Each generation must learn anew this heritage in order to appreciate and maintain it for future generations. As Thomas Jefferson stated, “If a nation expects to remain ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

FUPR^TM: The Formula for the American Experiment

Did you miss the first theme? FREEDOM
Did you miss the second theme? UNITY
Did you miss the third theme? PROGRESS

Copyright © American Heritage Education Foundation. All rights reserved.

Dr. Richard J. Gonzalez (1912-1998) is Co-Founder of AHEF. Dr. Gonzalez served as Chief Economist and a member of the Board of Directors for Humble Oil and Refining Company (later Exxon Mobil) in Houston, Texas, for 28 years. Later, he served as an economic consultant to various federal agencies and studies including the Department of Defense and the National Energy Study.

He consulted with the Petroleum Administration for Defense and the Office of Defense Mobilization. In 1970, he was appointed by the U. S. Secretary of the Interior to the National Energy Study. In addition, Gonzalez chaired and directed many petroleum industry boards and committees. He served as director of the National Industrial Conference Board, chairman of the Economics Advisory Committee-Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and chairman of the National Petroleum Council Drafting Committee on National Oil Policy. Gonzalez also held visiting professorships at the University of Texas, University of Houston, University of New Mexico, Stanford University, and Northwestern University. From 1983-1991, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Texas IC2 Institute (Innovation, Creativity, and Capital).

Gonzalez authored many articles and papers on topics ranging from energy economics to the role of progress in America. His articles include “Economics of the Mineral Industry” (1976), “Energy and the Environment: A Risk Benefit Approach” (1976), “Exploration and Economics of the Petroleum Industry” (1976), “Exploration for U. S. Oil and Gas” (1977), “National Energy Security” (1978), and “How Can U.S. Energy Production Be Increased?” (1979).

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Gonzalez earned his B.A. in Mathematics, M.A. in Economics, and Ph.D. in Economics (Phi Beta Kappa with highest honors) from the University of Texas at Austin. He was and still is the youngest candidate ever to earn his Ph.D. from UT-Austin at the age of 21 in 1934.

In 1993, Dr. and Mrs. Gonzalez were recognized by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) with the Bronze Good Citizenship Medals for “Notable Services on Behalf of American Principles.”

Selected Articles:
1. “What Makes America Great? An Address before the Dallas Chapter Society for the Advancement of Management” (1951)
2. “Power for Progress” (1952)
3. “Increasing Importance of Economic Education” (1953)
4. “Federal Spending and Deficits Must Be Controlled to Stop Inflation” (1978)
5. “What Enabled Americans to Achieve Great Progress? Keys to Remarkable Economic Progress of the United States of America” (1989)
6. “The Establishment of the United States of America” (1991)

Eugenie Gonzalez is Co-Founder of AHEF. Mrs. Gonzalez was elected to the Houston Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees with Dr. Herman Barnett III and David Lopez from 1972-1976 and was a key designer and advocate for HISD’s Magnet School program. With HISD and AHEF in 1993, she designed and implemented HISD’s annual American Heritage Month held every November throughout HISD.

Jeannie was recognized in 1993 by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) for “Notable Services on Behalf of American Principles” with the Bronze Good Citizenship Medal and in 2011 by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) for “Outstanding Achievement through Education Pursuits” with the Mary Smith Lockwood Medal. In 2004, she was honored to receive HISD’s first American Heritage Month Exemplary Citizenship Award.

Jeannie was a volunteer, participant, and supporter of M. D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Gethsemane United Methodist Church, Houston Grand Jury Association (board member), League of Women Voters, Houston Area Forum, the Mayor’s Charter Study Committee, Vision America, Houston Parks Department, and Houston Tennis Association. She was instrumental in the founding of the Houston Tennis Association and Houston Tennis Patrons.

In her youth, Jeannie was the leading women’s tennis player in the Midwest Section of the US Lawn Tennis Association and competed at the U. S. National Championships. She attended by invitation and became the first women’s tennis player at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1932, 1933, and 1934, Jeannie was women’s finalist at the Houston Invitational Tennis Tournament which became the River Oaks Invitational Tennis Tournament and is now the USTA Clay Court Championships. She was instrumental in bringing some of the nation’s top amateur tennis players to that event. Jeannie became the first teaching tennis professional at Houston Country Club and River Oaks Country Club, starting active junior programs at each. Jeannie and her father, Jack Sampson, were jointly inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012.