organizations · updated 2026-08-29
Progressive Texans, Inc.
confidence: attested weakest: ev-0040
The statewide buy-Texas campaign Tips led as general chairman, promoting Three Rivers Glass as a Texas-made alternative
The statewide organization behind the “What Texas Makes, Makes Texas” campaign — a coordinated effort by the three regional Texas Chambers of Commerce to promote Texas-made products and industrial development. Charles R. Tips served as Vice President, Director, and General Campaign Chairman for the entire state, and credited the campaign with helping Three Rivers Glass Company compete against out-of-state rivals on brand loyalty.
Formed by the East Texas, West Texas, and South Texas Chambers of Commerce and organized around a “five year plan for Texas industrial development” (per Tips’ 1971 letter [ev-0041]). It worked with the UT Bureau of Business Research to study and publicize Texas industry. Tips later described the organization as “the forerunner of the present Texas State Industrial Commission.”
Key Personnel
- John W. Carpenter (Texas Power & Light Company) — President. TP&L president 1927–1949.
- Charles R. Tips — Vice President, Director, and General Campaign Chairman. Selected “because of his interest in the general welfare of the State and also because of the remarkable success that he has attained in his own business.”
Timeline
- By April 1928: The “What Texas Makes, Makes Texas” slogan already in use
- March 1931: Tips confirmed as “general chairman of the campaign committee of Progressive Texans, Inc.” (Henderson Daily News, March 29) [ev-0040]
Connection to Three Rivers Glass
Tips credited the campaign with helping Three Rivers Glass compete against out-of-state glass companies on brand loyalty. A 1928 Coleman Democrat Voice article exemplifies the campaign in practice: it argues every ingredient of Texas catsup can be sourced in Texas, including the glass bottles from Three Rivers Glass Company — a direct buy-local argument for a Texas manufacturer’s product [ev-0040].
Digital footprint: Progressive Texans, Inc. has essentially zero independent digital presence outside this project’s own primary sources. No TSHA Handbook entry, no Wikipedia article, no digitized secondary sources mention it. Best prospects for future research are the John W. Carpenter Papers at UTA Arlington (physical archive).