H and H Coffee

Dedicated to the history of the Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Co. founded 1899 in San Antonio, Texas.

Office Manager and Custodian of Accounts for Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Company. The eldest of the Menger brothers who ran H&H through the 1920s. Born c. 1886; died October 1971 in San Antonio, aged 85. Interred at Mission Burial Park, San Antonio.

Role at H&H

Office Manager as of January 1920 (when the Menger brothers purchased W. E. Hayman’s interests) and confirmed in the August 14, 1921 SA Light board listing. By 1923 his title had shifted to Custodian of Accounts — described in the San Antonio Light employee-feature spread (August 26, 1923) as holding “a valuable but thankless job,” faithfully recording every transaction, with duties increasing as sales increased.

He is not present in the December 1932 officer roster (which lists Gus P. Menger as president, R. W. Menger as secretary, T. J. Menger as treasurer, William P. Hoffman as VP), suggesting he had withdrawn from H&H by that point — possibly on the formation of the mid-1930s leadership structure, or earlier.

Sibling context

One of seven Menger siblings active in 20th-century San Antonio: Gustav P. (“Gus P.”), Rudolph W., Theodore J. (T. J.), Louis B., August, Edward W., and Margaret. Louis B. is the eldest of the set confirmed by birth year (~1886 vs. Gus P.’s September 1889). The siblings all descend from Dr. R. Menger; the connection to H&H came through their sister Minnie Menger (Mrs. William R. Hoffmann, later Mrs. William J. Schlosser), co-founder.

Louis B.’s full birth order relative to August and Margaret has not been directly documented. Birth and baptism records from Texas 1880–1895 would resolve the sequence.

Primary documentation

  • SA Light, 26 August 1923 — employee-feature portrait and profile: “Mr. L. B. Menger, Custodian of Accounts, Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Co.” Artifact: HH-CLIP-1923-0022.
  • SA Light, 14 August 1921 — board listing confirming full name “Louis B. Menger” as Office Manager.
  • HH-CLIP-1956-0002 — Minnie Menger Schlosser obituary (1956) names L. B. as one of six surviving brothers, confirming he was alive at age ~70 in 1956.
  • HH-CLIP-1971-0002 — obituary (October 1971); full biographical details not yet distilled into the KB.
  • HH-CLIP-1974-0002 — G. P. Menger obituary (August 1974) names the full sibling set; Louis B. cited by name.

Open questions

  • Exact birth and death dates (obit has the date; not yet distilled)
  • Whether he held any role at H&H between 1923 and 1932, or left the firm entirely
  • Relationship to “William P. Hoffman (VP 1932)” — if Louis B. had already left the firm, who handled the accounts function after him?
  • Census records 1900, 1910, 1920 would supply early biographical detail

See also