b'Left: The 1927 historical marker at the Alamo quoting Clara Driscolls words in 1905, and proclaiming her Savior of the Alamo. Below: Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, which Clara was pivotal in establishing, 1943. After fifteen years at Laguna Gloria, the Seviers once again pulled up roots andCEMENTING THE DRISCOLL LEGACY IN THE COASTAL BENDUpon tak-headed for their third home together at the Palo Alto Ranch, headquarters foring the reigns of the Driscoll empire in South Texas, Clara assumed the pres-the Driscoll businesses that was located near the current-day town of Driscoll inidency of Corpus Christi Bank and Trust along with a place on the board of western Nueces County. The Seviers private paradise in Austin was shuttereddirectors of Corpus Christi National Bank. The Great Depression, marked by the and would later be donated by Clara to the Texas Fine Art Association, whichstock market crash of October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, took place just reestablished the property as the Laguna Gloria Art Museum. three months after the opening of the Plaza Hotel.In true Clara Driscoll style, the woman who was a published author and Broad- The hotel fell upon hard times, and by the mid-1930s the Corpus Christi owners way playwright and had been proclaimed the savior of the Alamo by age 24, andsold their interest to Jack White, the San Antonio investor who renamed it the who had been elected to high leadership in the Texas Democratic Party in herWhite Plaza Hotel. Clara continued to use her lavish penthouse apartment, but 30s, was in no way considering the easy route of selling her family trust anda shouting match is said to have ensued in which she called the hotel manager a living out her years in leisure. Clara would only lead her life with purpose. stuffy old owl after he complained about her loud weekend party.70 THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'