By Patti Parish-Kaminski –
What does Sir Winston Churchill and Fort Bend County resident, attorney and community servant Carl P. Favre have in common? A shared philosophy of service. “A quote by Sir Winston Churchill says it all,” according to this GEM of Fort Bend. Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
“I know Churchill’s words to be so true,” said Favre. “As a person of faith, I do believe that we all have been blessed and are called to share our blessings with others.” This passion for helping others began during a transformation in Favre’s life, a period of self-discovery that was years in the making. As a young man, he graduated with a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and began his career designing airports at Houston’s Hobby Airport. He had married in college in 1973, and by 1976, Favre decided to put himself through law school at the University of Houston while working his full-time job. In 1977, he was blessed with his first son, Christopher Jude.
Amelia Favre Plexico, Carl, Melissa, Christopher and Juliette Favre with Hector Betancourt.
Joy was put on hold shortly after coming home because infant Christopher began to have breathing problems. He was admitted to a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and after a series of invasive tests, multiple misdiagnoses and 10 days in the hospital, Chris’ condition continued to deteriorate. Feeling hopeless and desperate, Favre returned to the Catholic roots of his childhood and began praying for his son’s recovery. He promised God that he would read the Bible, cover to cover, if only his son were spared. “After this prayer of negotiation, the very next day, Chris got better. The doctors simply did not know what the problem was. In the end, they felt it was likely newborn pneumonia. Chris has never been sick since.” Yet, Favre forgot the vow made in desperation in the NICU of Texas Children’s Hospital.
Shortly thereafter, Favre and his family moved to Rogers, Arkansas, where he continued law school at the University of Arkansas. With a young family, Favre obtained a broker’s license and supported his family as a real estate broker in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma while in school. He became a real estate broker for a small company, and sold a wide range of property from chicken farms to lake lots. “I loved real estate sales and the challenge of negotiations, but I wasn’t willing to give up pursuit of my law degree.”
Carl, Zoe and Mary Favre on top of Bald Mountain in Utah.
Favre’s love of real estate and law was the foundation of his future career. He was hired directly out of law school by Exxon in 1980. “I started in litigation, and my first assignment was in New Orleans,” said Favre. Shortly after arriving in New Orleans, his second son, Nicholas Carl, was born. In 1982, Favre was sent to Colorado to help with the development of a new town for the workers of Exxon’s oil shale project. Unfortunately, after only six weeks, Exxon projected that the price of oil would plummet to around $10 per barrel and closed the project reassigning Favre to Houston.
Favre spent the next five years as senior counsel for Exxon’s subsidiary, Friendswood Development Company. While working for Friendswood, he became board certified in commercial and residential real estate law. At Friendswood, he served as counsel for the master planned communities of Kingwood and Clear Lake City, getting back to the professional combination that he loved: real estate and law. He left Exxon in 1987 and joined Sugarland Properties, Inc. as general counsel. “The development of raw land into a community is something that I always enjoyed,” said Favre, who later became a partner as Sugarland Properties grew into Planned Community Developers, Ltd.
In his new role in a growing, thriving community, Favre was part of the team that developed and built much of First Colony including Sugar Land Town Square. “I consider my small role in building such an amazing community as a great professional accomplishment. We were able to participate in building a community that we live in, work in and that we love so much. I feel a great deal of pride at being a participant in helping building this community and making Sugar Land one of the best cities in the United States to live and work.”
Carl, Landon, Amber, Briley and Nicholas Carl Favre.
By 1991, Favre had divorced and despite his professional success, he felt something was missing in his life. “After my divorce, I really did some reflection on my life – about who I was and what I wanted to do,” said Favre. “On the outside, I had it all, but on the inside, I was miserable. I realized the missing component in my life was a personal relationship with God. I rededicated my life and began the transformation of my spiritual life, as well as service to others. I also prayed that a Godly woman be brought into my life.”
Favre’s prayers were answered at a church dance in 1992 when he met Mary. “From the moment we danced, I knew she was the one,” said Favre. He took her out the next day for brunch and told her that he wanted to see her again. Unfortunately, Mary’s schedule at the time didn’t allow for a relationship. “She told me that she was sorry, but she had committed to facilitate a 36-week, intense Bible study.” Mary was leading the class of only 12 individuals, and the curriculum included reading the Bible from beginning to end. “She told me there was one spot available, and if I really wanted to see her, I could join the study.”
Favre finally made good on that promise made years ago, and he read the Bible cover to cover. In 1994, Carl and Mary were married, but their journey getting to the altar encountered a few obstacles. “I asked Mary to be my wife in December of 1993, and right after we became engaged, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Through that ordeal, we realized that every day is a blessing, and our priority in life should be to strive to do His will.”
Favre’s commitment to the community he loves and helped build includes serving numerous organizations, often from behind the scenes. His humility or “quiet service” comes from his intense desire to simply help those in need. Though he serves on four boards currently including the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Sugar Land Heritage Foundation and Skeeters’ Deacon’s Dugout Foundation, the organization that truly has his heart is the Parks Youth Ranch. “The Parks Youth Ranch is a unique facility,” said Favre. “There’s really nothing like quite like it, and yet, and it is my hope that it will be a model for other youth facilities because we are making a difference in children’s lives.” The Ranch provides housing and resources for homeless teens and works at securing them a permanent or foster home. “Usually, we have only 90 days to give them a positive and nurturing environment along with counseling. Helping a homeless child, now that’s important.” shared Favre. “We feel the same way about other charitable organizations that are focused on improving the welfare of women and children. Those are the kinds of organizations we feel the greatest desire to help.”
Favre has made it a priority to instill the value of giving to his three children: Christopher, Nicholas and Zoe. “At times during our children’s lives, we have given them financial support, and I tell them, ‘Don’t pay us back.’ Instead, we ask that they give the money we gave them to a charity or someone in need.”
Favre truly believes in the philosophy that it is much better to give than to receive. “The irony of it all is that the Bible says the more you give, the more you will receive.” Proverbs 11:24-25 states, “There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”
“Our community has many charitable organizations that do an excellent job of supporting people who are in need and helping them through a personal crisis,” said Favre. “You get a sense of well-being that is hard to describe when you think you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. ‘Pay it forward’ is what Mary always says, so if we can share our blessings with others, we will have a fulfilled life.” For his humility in service, his dedication to community and his willingness to share his blessings with so many, absolutely! Brazos and Fort Bend Focus Magazines are proud to honor Carl P. Favre as a GEM of Fort Bend.