Working list of individuals tied to the Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Company—founders, family, officers named on this site, and a few closely linked figures from the timeline. It is not exhaustive; workforce, brokers, and minor shareholders still belong in the research queue (see Mystery § II). For firms and addresses, see Related Companies. For narrative context, see History and About.
Founders and merger (1899–1912)
| Name |
Role / connection |
| William Robert Hoffmann (also cited as William R. Hoffmann) |
Founded the San Antonio coffee business in 1899; died 1912 — Light death notice, 11 Jan 1912. 1923 San Antonio Light plant spread with portrait, 1905/1910 insets, and Burnett Street isometric: New home of a great institution. |
| W. E. Hayman |
Founder of Merchants Coffee; merged with Hoffmann’s firm in 1912 to form Hoffmann-Hayman; served as president in the early merged company; sold his interest to the Mengers in 1920. Biographical gaps—see Mystery § II. |
Menger–Hoffmann family and hotel dynasty
| Name |
Role / connection |
| Wilhelmina “Minnie” Menger Hoffmann (later Mrs. William J. Schlosser, née Menger) |
Married William Hoffmann; vice president after the 1912 merger; central to bringing her brothers into the business. International Women’s Day post. 1923 Light vice-president / director clip (printed as Mrs. (Dr.) William J. Schlosser): page-60 profile. |
| William L. Menger |
Owner of the Menger Hotel; grandfather of Minnie (through her mother’s line—see History). |
| Dr. Rudolph Menger and Catherine Menger |
Minnie’s parents (Catherine a granddaughter of William L. Menger). |
| Gustav P. Menger (“Gus”) |
Minnie’s brother; secretary at the 1912 merger; later president; signed the 1972 warehouse sale as G. P. Menger. Press photo. 1923 Light president profile: Gus R. Menger clip; same publicity run, H and H Guaran-Tea display signs the offer G. A. Menger, president—compare with the portrait block. |
| Rudolph W. Menger |
Minnie’s brother; secretary–treasurer after Hayman’s 1920 exit; R. W. Menger on company letterhead. 1923 Light on advertising: Believes in advertising H and H products. |
| T. J. Menger |
Treasurer on period Hoffmann-Hayman letterhead (see letterhead post); 1934 officer list matches that title. Profiled as credit manager in the 26 Aug 1923 San Antonio Light factory series (profile). |
| L. B. Menger |
Custodian of accounts in 1923 (San Antonio Light employee feature—same page spread as the Joachum Morales profile). Accounts clip. |
| A. G. Menger |
Assistant secretary on the same letterhead masthead. |
| Dr. William J. Schlosser |
Minnie’s later husband; appears with family in the very special tour factory photograph; died 1963 (timeline). |
| Albert Menger |
Son of Gus P. Menger; appears with him in a c. 1948 plant cupping-table press photo from the UTSA San Antonio Light collection (post). |
Family (brief lives)
| Name |
Notes |
| William R. Hoffmann Jr. |
Son of William and Wilhelmina; born December 1910, died January 1911 (see timeline and Minnie post). |
Staff, sales, and plant roles (newspaper-documented)
Named in the 26 Aug 1923 San Antonio Light Hoffmann–Hayman factory series and related clips—officers already listed above are omitted here unless the clip adds a different job title.
| Name |
Role / connection |
| Paul A. Rochs (also Paul Rochs in 1923 copy) |
Sales manager on the Oct 1934 officer list (anniversary feature); coffee salesman in 1923 (eleven years with the firm at that date). 1923 profile. |
| A. V. Fitzgerald |
Field superintendent on the 1934 officer list (same feature). |
| R. A. Nagel |
Office manager; 1923 profile on prompt order service. Profile. |
| Chris Jasso |
Superintendent, packing department; 1923 Light. Profile; unusual coffee “recipes” spread (same page, page 62). |
| Clara H. Allred |
Special demonstrator (in-store tastings for grocers and housewives); 1923 Light. Profile. |
| Irene Brown |
Demonstrator; 1923 Light. Profile. |
| Joachum Morales |
City salesman; 1923 Light. Profile. |
| P. J. Smith |
City salesman; 1923 Light. Profile. |
| E. E. Knous |
Restaurant specialist (H and H blend to the restaurant trade); 1923 Light. Profile. |
How this list should grow
City directories, payroll fragments, union records, and labeled sales photos can add clerks, roasters, drivers, and agents—the social history of the plant, not only the officer line. When you have a primary source for someone new, they can be added here and, where appropriate, spun into a blog post or timeline entry.
