Jacques H. Houdry

Jacques H. Houdry sportsman, 86 years old, of West Palm Beach, Florida, died on February 6th. He was born in Paris, France and had been a former resident of Palm Beach, Fl and Gladwyne, PA. Jacques was the president and vice chairman of Oxy Catalyst, a firm founded by his father, Eugene Houdry, the inventor of the catalytic cracking process of oil refining to produce high octane gasoline. The Houdry Process revolutionized the oil industry. Jacques attended the Hill School and Episcopal Academy. After one year at MIT, he served in the US Army for two years. He resumed his studies at Princeton University, where he was both the captain and number one player of the golf team. He was a connoisseur of food and wine and he was known to have has one of the finest wine cellars in the Philadelphia area. He greatly enjoyed introducing his friends to the charm and gastronomical experiences to be found in the many villages in the various regions of France. Jacques was an accomplished amateur golfer and a member of the U.S. Seniors. He competed in seven major events including the U.S. Opens at Merion and Oakmont, and the British and French Opens. He was a member of the Royal and Ancient St. Andrews in Scotland, the Gulph Mills Golf club, the Merion Cricket Club, and the everglades Club. He was a former member of Seminole Golf Club, The Brook, and the Merion Golf Club where he shot a round of 63 in the Baily Cup of 1950 to break the course record. Jacques was both a gentleman and a gentle man who will be missed by friends and family. He is survived by his wife Dorothee, two daughters, Trish (John) Stanley of Wayne, PA., and Barbara Sabo of West Palm Beach, two grandchildren, Nina (Ryan) Casey of San Francisco, CA and Spencer Stanley of Chester Springs, PA., and one great grandson. Donations are to made to Hospice and the American Cancer Society. There will be a private memorial service for the family.