In 1905, L.H. Spivey, T.M. Fairchild, E.O. Smith, and several Negro
leaders meet with William A. Hunton the National Colored Secretary to
discuss establishing a Houston YMCA for Negros. These Houston leaders
continued to meet on Sundays for many years; however, their initial
quest to establish a Y failed until the National War Work Council
established the Colored Soldiers and Sailors Branch of Houston Young
Men's Christian Associations of the United States in 1918. The Colored
Soldiers and Sailors Branch of Houston Young Men's Christian Association
(YMCA) was housed on the third floor of the Lincoln Theatre under the
leadership of Professor Howard Payne Carter to provide fraternal and
Christian fellowship for Houston's Colored soldiers and sailors
returning from World War I.