HOUSTON – The owner of Gallery Furniture is known for much more than just owning a large north Houston store and his commercial catch-phrases.
Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale is devoted to numerous charities.
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His commercials promise to "save you money." But, McIngvale has also given away millions.
In 1994, McIngvale placed the record-setting bid for the grand champion steer at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo -- $300,000.
The massive bid was not only a big boost for scholarships, but also a big push for a trend of high-dollar bids at rodeo auctions.
He also bought the grand champion steer in 1989, 2001 and 2009. In 2001, he paid a record $600,000.
"The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is saddened to hear of the recent event with Gallery Furniture," said Joe Bruce Hancock, general manager of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "Jim and Linda McIngvale and his family have been huge supporters of the Show. They have contributed more than $4.5 million in support of the Show. Because of this generosity, more than 100 young Texans have been able to pursue a college education through the Show's scholarship program. Our heart goes out to the entire Gallery Furniture family."
McIngvale is also known for his love of Houston sports teams. He was front and center, supporting the Rockets during their back-to-back championships.
His generosity reached beyond the Houston area when he helped tsunami relief efforts.
"With the help of Jim and Linda McIngvale we have created the Clinton-Bush Fund and hope you will consider donating to this cause," former President George H.W. Bush said in a commercial.
Former President George H.W. Bush called McIngvale Friday to offer his support.
"If anyone can overcome this adversity, it is our friends Mack and Linda and their terrific team," Bush wrote in a statement. "Like so many Houstonians, our thoughts -- and continued support -- are with the Gallery Furniture family."
McIngvale is also a big supporter of the military and the USO. He donated furniture to more than 130 USOs around the world, making clubhouses for military heroes a little nicer.
"We have soldiers right now sitting in Kuwait, Iraq, and all over that are sitting on furniture and watching TVs donated by Mack. And today, and all through the night, I've received e-mail from soldiers and family members both overseas and here who have felt the impact of Mack's generosity," said LTC Susie Barlow, the director of USO in Houston.
A soldier wrote to McIngvale just before the 2008 Superbowl. Sgt. Arron Simmons needed help watching the big game.
So, McIngvale sent Simmons a 42-inch high-definition television, which cost about $2,000. The shipping cost just as much.
Simmons now lives in Colorado.
"I looked at all the pictures and I watched a little newsreel of it. It's just a very tragic thing to see (the fire). I'd like to extend my condolences and things like that to Mattress Mack and his family," he said.
"He's know in military channels as our guardian angel for the USO," Barlow said.
Every Christmas, Gallery Furniture holds a special giveaway where furniture is donated to those in need. Aida Hernandez and her family were given a house-full of furniture to go into her new Habitat for Humanity home in northwest Houston. She said McIngvale changed her family's life forever.
Jim and Linda McIngvale opened their first store in 1981 with $5,000. They slept in the store to guard their four sofas.
A four-alarm fire Thursday night destroyed the McIngvale's warehouse in north Houston. They promise to come back bigger and stronger.