Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, Founder of Gallery Furniture

Born in Mississippi, Jim “Mattress Mack” Mcingvale attended high school in Dallas, TX and was a student at the University of Texas and the University of North Texas where he played football for both schools in 1969-1970 and 1972-1973, respectively. After college, Mack worked at a convenience store where his boss did him a huge favor one day: he fired him.

Refreshed and determined, Mack found a job at a furniture store on the other side of town where he diligently worked, absorbing the business practices and trades of the furniture industry. Inspired, he made a decision that would forever change his life and the competitive world of the retail industry: to open up his own furniture store.

Mattress Mack now has three Gallery Furniture stores, the original North Freeway, 110,000 square foot location, the largest store on Grand Parkway and the smaller Post Oak store. While Gallery Furniture is well known, Mack’s philanthropy is legendary. In fact, his philanthropy is as contagious as his passion for furniture. His work on special projects has helped to build the first Mobile Stroke Unit in the USA for patients in Houston and when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August of 2017, Mack opened the doors of Gallery Furniture to those who were seeking shelter from the flood. Most recently, Mack served 3,000+ meals and provided overnight shelter to more than 700 Houstonians at Gallery Furniture who were affected by Winter Storm Uri. When there's a great charitable need, Mack is usually the first to respond, if not spearhead the effort.

Anyone who's ever worked for or with Mack knows that he builds his business and performs his acts of charity not for recognition, but to benefit the community at large. Mack has a huge heart and is focused on helping Houston become the greatest city in America. Mack is one of Houston's most recognized citizens and has touched the lives of countless Houstonians in a positive way.