The “Man of Distinction,” Harry E. Mach, CEO of Mach Industrial Group, a manufacturer and fabricator for the petrochemical industry, was born and raised in Houston. He attended Queen of Peace Catholic School, St. Thomas High School, and the University of Houston. In May of 1963, Harry met Cora Sue, the love of his life, and in February of 1964 they were married. They have two sons, Harry III (Butch) and wife, Carmen, and Steve and wife, Joella, and five grandchildren: Priscilla, Bennett, Isabella, Evelyn, and Lilly, whom they lovingly call The Mach Five.

In 1974, Harry began to display the attributes of a “Man of Distinction” when he took on the leadership of the family business, the Mach Corporation, after his father passed away suddenly from a heart attack. In the years that followed, Harry proved to be a born leader. As busy as he was, he took the time to coach little league and served as a scoutmaster. His success can be measured by the fact that both his sons became Eagle Scouts.

By 1992, the Mach Corporation had tripled in size and outgrown its original plant. The decision was made to move the plant to its current location on Fulton St. and to change the name to the Mach Industrial Group. The company has just celebrated its 65th anniversary and remains a family business with Harry, his brother, Tom, and his sons, Butch and Steve, overseeing the operations. In fact, in 1999, the Houston Business Journal named the company one of its top 25 family-owned businesses.

In 1985, when their sons were in college, Harry and Cora Sue made the decision to put back into the community that had treated them so well. As a result, Harry became a founding director of a new bank. In 1990, it was sold to National Commerce Bank. Harry accepted a board position with the acquiring bank, a position he held until the bank merged with Frost Bank in 1995.

Harry has also given back to the community in many other ways. He was elected to the Houston Grand Opera board of trustees in 2000 and became a member of the board of governors, serving as vice president of public policy and vice president of finance. He joined the “C” Club in Houston and served on the executive committee from 2001 until 2007, holding all positions on the committee, including president in 2005. Harry was also appointed as a member of the founding board of the St. Thomas High School Foundation in 1991.

The following is just a sample of some of his recent board memberships: University of St. Thomas board of directors, 2015 to the present; Greater Houston Gun Club from 1997 to the present, serving as president from 2003 to 2012; Czech Cultural Society from 2003 to the present; and Baylor College of Medicine BRASS (Baylor Research Advocates for Student Scientists) development board from 2001 to 2008, vice president from 2002 to 2004, president elect from 2004 to 2005, and president from 2005 to 2007.

Harry is, and always has been, a vital member of various professional groups. These include: American Society for Metals Houston Chapter, current member; “C” Club Member from 1998 to the present; Houston Realty Breakfast Club from 2002 to the present; Men of Distinction board from 2007 to the present and co-chaired the Inaugural Luncheon in 2007; National Commerce Bank board of directors from 1990 to 1995; and Plaza Del Oro Bank from 1985 to 1990.

An avid clays shooter, Harry served as president of the Texas State Skeet Shooting Association from 1994 to 1997 and was inducted into the Texas State Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame in 2007. In 1997, Harry helped revive the Greater Houston Gun Club (GHGC), serving as president from 2003 to 2012. Over the past sixteen years, not only has the club become one of the premier shooting facilities in the United States, it has also become one of Houston’s most popular venues for an array of philanthropic events hosted by medical related charities, hospitals, schools, museums, performing arts organizations, and veterans’ assistance groups. In the past three years, over $6 million has been raised for charities on the sporting clays courses at GHGC.

Harry and his wife, Cora Sue, are active supporters of the Houston Symphony, the Houston Ballet, the Alley Theatre, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, the Baylor Partnership, Trinity University, and River Oaks Baptist School, as well as many other worthy organizations. In 2002, the couple chaired the St. Thomas High School Centennial Year, and in 2014, they cochaired the Houston Symphony Centennial Ball, along with their son Steve and his wife, Joella.

Among the honors Harry has received are: Houston Symphony Opening Night Honoree, Holocaust Museum Guardian of the Human Spirit Award, Moore’s School of Music Volunteer Award, Family Service Center’s Celebration of Families Honoree, Citizens of Animal Protection (CAP) Gala Honoree, Inner City Catholic Schools Gala Honoree, Men of Distinction Honoree, BRASS Angel of the Year Award, and the St. Thomas High School Volunteer of the Year Award. Harry is a Knight of the Grand Cross in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Not only has Harry Mach guided his family’s business to prosperity and contributed to his community, he has been a loving husband, a nurturing father, and a positive role model for his sons whom he has directed to their own success in the family business. Butch Mach puts it this way: “What I know about being a father, a husband, a businessman, and a person involved in my community, I learned from my father.” And Steve Mach says this of his mother and father’s union: “Together, they have achieved much, lived much, and loved much. Behind this ‘Man of Distinction’ is a distinctive couple deeply committed to one another—a great recipe, indeed.”

CKW LUXE would like to congratulate Harry Mach for being a CKW LUXE Top 20 CEOs and Entrepreneurs Awards recipient for 2019.

2019 TOP 20 CEOS AND ENTERPRENUERS AWARDS