CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — In Downtown Corpus Christi you can find Thomas J. Henry‘s name on a number of structures. Like one parking garage in the 600 block of North Carancahua Street. It sits right next door to Wilson Plaza. If you take a look at the top of the building, Mr. Henry’s name is there too.
Just down the street at 521 Starr Street is where the old federal courthouse sits. Henry has had his name on a building there for a number of years, it serves as one of his offices.
Henry is also looking at placing his name on the American Bank Center, but 3NEWS has recently heard he now has new competition.
”I don’t have the names but I know through OVG 360 there’s a few persons that are interested in having the naming rights to this building” City Manager Peter Zanoni said.
Henry put out a news release and was angry with the City Manager.
Part of the release says, ”Zanoni’s repeated references to reputation are concerning to Thomas Henry, who has dedicated 30 years to serving and uplifting the Corpus Christi community. I would put my reputation for helping our community up against the City manager and any councilmember any day of the week.”
3NEWs asked the city manager for his response on that issue.
”American Bank has been a stellar partner in our community and Thomas J. Henry may be a stellar partner as are many other partners in our community," Zanoni said. "What my comments meant were they want somebody like American Bank Center who is well recognized in our community, who embraces our community, who invests in our community.”
Councilman Roland Barrera said he is not sold on the idea of naming the American Bank Center after Thomas J. Henry.
"I think somebody that's been truly engaged in a lot of these core values that the city of Corpus Christi has and that may be Thomas J. Henry I just haven't seen it," Barrera said.
Meanwhile, councilmember Sylvia Campos sees nothing wrong with the attorney's name on our events center.
"This is a man who has lived in Corpus Christi and now he has offices all over Texas, but I don't understand why there was this hesitancy to allow him to submit his name," Campos said.
Zanoni also told 3NEWS that he didn't mention Henry's name or his reputation. He says professional standards, not politics, guide the naming rights of the venue.