A visit with María Luisa Kahn Holmgreen;
Estela Kramer hosts SA luncheon

Native Laredoan Mary Lou Kahn has expanded her name to María Luisa Kahn-Rangel Holmgreen, B.A., M.A., J.D. In like manner, she has expanded her life, having progressed to be a successful San Antonio attorney.
She has accumulated college degrees, professional honors, family, and two homes. She has become fluent in Spanish, French, and German.
Born to the late Henry A. Kahn, whose family came from Alsace-Lorraine, and María Luisa Rangel Kahn, she attended Laredo schools and graduated from Martin High School in 1958. She earned her B.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas; her M.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio; and her J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio.
Her professional employment includes Associate Municipal Judge for both the City of Fair Oaks Ranch and Olmos Park. As a solo practitioner, she deals with business, real estate, wills and probate, municipal law, and bankruptcy.
She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1982 and later to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fifth Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for both the Western and Southern districts. She has held every office in the federal bar association. She coordinated the U.S.-Mexico Legal Conference in 1992.
Acitve in civic affairs, María Luisa is a member of the Alamo Heights Rotary Club, San Antonio 100, Friends of the McNay Art Museum, the Castroville Conservation Society, and the Bexar County Republican Women.
She and her husband, anestheseologist Dr. Corbett J. Holmgreen, bought a weekend home in Castroville, one of the houses built in 1848 by the original settlers from Alsace-Lorraine. They have three children -- Alan Corbett Holmgreen, a Laredo real estate broker married to Destine Denman; Celia Louise Holmgreen, married to Anthony Arispe Perez in LaMarque; and Andrew Wrather Holmgreen, a second year student at the University of Houston Law Center.
A visit to María Luisa's office at 7718 Broadway is a delight. Pictures of grandsons Austin and Travis abound. If she speaks of a legal matter, one senses her complete understanding of the law. The massive mahogany desk, the leather chairs, the paintings on the wall, all are impressive. A figurine of an elephant suggests a trip to India. Her wall art exemplifies her interest in early Texas paintings.
We look forward to seeing María Luisa at the October 4 reunion of the Martin High School Class of 1958.

Kramer luncheon
People who live in apartments can be superb hostesses, one gathers from having lunch at the apartment of Estela Zamora Kramer, former Laredoan who commanded the Golden Spurs at Nixon High School for many years. Not long ago she hosted a luncheon for five who included two Laredo visitors and one who had come to see a show -- Mary Elva Cruz, Nelda Guerrero Drury, and your reporter.
Estela's salad of aguacates and pink grapefruit and her chicken smothered in a cream sauce were delicious. Cake and ice cream finished the meal. From the dining area, a few feet higher than the living room, one had a splendid view of the patio which was bright with flowering plants.
Gracias, Estela.

News from Josephine Brand
First, Happy Birthday, Josephine, who on July 27 was 94. When she was 90, she celebrated with a gala at the Laredo Country Club, but she now celebrates quietly with family.
She writes of a harrowing experience of a Laredoan who had gone to Baltimore to be present for the surgery of her granddaughter. "The plane left the terminal, and then the pilot announced he had to return due to a malfunction. Instead of returning to the terminal, he went to a far off corner of the airport and announced for all passengers to disembark by the rear of the plane quietly and to take nothing with them. When they disembarked, the plane was surrounded by terrorist police security. It was quite a scare. The passengers ere taken to a far-away hut and shut up, no food, no water, no light. It was a real bomb scare. After long hours, they were taken back to the terminal, but without communication having gone out to anyone. The airport was shut down. She finally made a call to her husband, a prominent Laredo physician, and he was frantic. After much calling back and forth, she spent the night in the airport and got a flight at 6 a.m. to Laredo. She was a wreck. No safety anyplace today. Stay at home is best."

Elizabeth Quiros
celebrates birthday
Bess writes, "Yesterday was my birthday. I was one year away from my 90th. How the years fly! I've had a wonderful life with a loving husband and children. The Lord has been good to me.
"Some of my girl relatives came to lunch. There were 12 of us. They cooked lunch and a big carrot cake. There were four little nine year-old girls. They behaved like little ladies as they sat at a separate table. They bought gifts they picked out themselves. Evan III mixed up his own version of perfume for me, Kool Aid in a beautiful perfume bottle. They claimed it might be a little sticky, but it smelled good.
"Little children are such a delight. Other relatives called and some sent flowers. It was a beautiful day."