Alzina Orndorff DeGroff

Alzina Caroline Allis Orndorff DeGroff (also known as "Mama De")[1] was an American businesswoman who was involved in civic causes in El Paso, Texas, and West Texas.

Alzina Orndorff DeGroff c. 1905

DeGroff was born as Alzina Caroline Allis in Washington, Louisiana.[2] She married Lee H. Orndorff in 1876 and the couple had three sons.[2] They moved to Tucson, Arizona.[1] Lee Orndorff died after a railroad accident in 1887.[2][1] The death of Lee Orndorff propelled her into the business world.[1]

Alzina married Charles DeGroff in 1890 and the couple became involved in building hotels.[2][1] In 1899 the family moved to El Paso, Texas, after Alzina decided to buy the Vendome hotel which she renamed Hotel Orndorff.[1] The Hotel Orndorff was a huge success for Alzina and she went on to buy more real estate around the area and in the Lower Valley.[1] In March 1925, she began work on a new hotel that is now known as Hotel Cortez.[1] This hotel was designed by Henry C. Trost.[3]

Alzina DeGroff became the first president of the El Paso Paso Civic Improvement League, which was associated with the El Paso Woman's Club, in 1905.[4] She was also the first president of the El Paso Equal Franchise League, serving for a short time.[2][5] The Franchise League was formed in January of 1915 and the first meeting was held at the Hotel Orndorff.[6] She was appointed to the original board of the directors of the Texas Technological College in Lubbock by Governor Pat Morris Neff in 1923.[1]

DeGroff died on August 10, 1926, after a short illness.[2] Her funeral was held outside of her home and flags of El Paso City Hall were lowered to half-staff after news of her death.[2]

References
  1. Rea, Louise Maxon (1978-07-03). "Business Woman Has Unique Place in History". El Paso Times. p. 31. Retrieved 2022-03-13 – via Newspapers.com. and "Pioneer Woman Has Unique Place". El Paso Times. 1978-07-03. p. 32. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  2. "Mrs. DeGroff Dies; Funeral on Friday". El Paso Herald. 11 August 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via Newspapers.com. and "Mrs. DeGroff Dies Wednesday A. M. Funeral on Friday". p. 6.
  3. "Hotel Cortez Historical Marker". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  4. Longo, Joseph; Angus, Barbara; Stanfield, Sue; Ramirez, Claudia; Hutson, Melissa; Long, Trish; Duenas, Sarah (2020-07-19). "Women as Agents of Social Change: El Paso's Social Housekeepers, 1886-1930". El Paso County Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  5. "Woman Tells of Suffrage Work". El Paso Herald. 1928-03-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-03-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Organization of a Suffrage League of El Paso Women Desiring the Ballot". El Paso Herald. 1915-01-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2022-03-13 – via Newspapers.com.
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