History
Karl St. John Hoblitzelle was born in St. Louis in 1879. While serving as an event manager at the St. Louis World Fair in his early 20s, Karl Hoblitzelle met performers and concession operators who indicated the south, in particular Texas, lacked venues to showcase their work and talent. Upon the fair’s closing in 1903, Karl Hoblitzelle came to Dallas, Texas with $2,500 and began to build a chain of vaudeville theaters. At its peak, Interstate Theater Company held 160 theaters across Texas and the Southeast. These theaters were soon transformed into movie houses, and the success of this entertainment business created financial resources which he invested in the growing oil and gas, real estate, and banking industries in Texas.
Karl Hoblitzelle married Esther Thomas in 1920, a Broadway starlet who had performed under the name of “Esther Walker” and come to Dallas to perform at one of the theaters. Both were active in the social, civic, and cultural activities of Dallas, and did not have any descendants.
Prudent management of their financial assets resulted in the accumulation of significant wealth, which upon the death of Mrs. Hoblitzelle in 1943 and Mr. Hoblitzelle in 1967, became the corpus of Hoblitzelle Foundation.
For more information about the history of Karl Hoblitzelle, please refer to the book published by Paul W. Harris, President and CEO from 1986-2017:
Karl St. John Hoblitzelle
Esther Thomas Hoblitzelle
Board of Directors
Jere W. Thompson, Jr., Chairman
Michael S. Rawlings, Vice Chairman
Holland P. Gary, Treasurer
Rafael M. Anchía
Jeanne Whitman Bobbitt
Nita Prothro Clark
Jennifer Staubach Gates
Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.
Catherine M. Rose
Lizzie H. Routman
Honorary Lifetime Directors
Linda P. Custard
John W. Dayton
Paul W. Harris
Lydia H. Novakov
Caren H. Prothro
Deedie Potter Rose
George A. Shafer
Karen L. Shuford
William T. Solomon
Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D.
J. McDonald (Don) Williams
Staff
Katie H. Robbins
President & CEO
Katie was named President & CEO of Hoblitzelle Foundation in January 2018, continuing a treasured, multi-generational connection with the Foundation. Her grandfather, Lynn Harris, worked alongside Mr. Hoblitzelle for decades, and her father, Paul W. Harris, served the Foundation from 1986 until his retirement in 2017. Katie joined the Foundation staff in 2016 and now leads its efforts to preserve donor intent and carry forward the legacy of giving established by Karl Hoblitzelle.
A relationship-driven leader and strategic thinker, Katie values the collaborative spirit of the region’s nonprofit sector and seeks investments that uplift Dallas and its residents, address critical community needs, and strengthen the city’s civic assets. In her role, Katie oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking, finances, and investments and engages directly with nonprofit partners. She fosters active connections across the Dallas/Fort Worth philanthropic landscape and the broader Texas nonprofit community.
Before joining Hoblitzelle Foundation, Katie spent more than 20 years in nonprofit finance and administration. She began her career in public accounting, later serving in leadership roles at the American Heart Association’s national headquarters and as an administrator at Greenhill School.
Katie remains deeply engaged in the community, contributing her financial expertise and governance experience through board service. She is currently a trustee of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Communities Foundation of Texas, Florence Foundation, Methodist Health System Foundation, Philanthropy Southwest, and Southwestern Medical Foundation. Her previous board involvement includes leadership with Parkland Health, where she served as chair, and the Junior League of Dallas. Katie is also a member of Charter 100 and Dallas Assembly.
A Dallas native, Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from SMU. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active and spending time with her two sons, one of whom attends the University of Arkansas and the other a local high school.
Amie Karnes
Operations Manager
Amie joined the Hoblitzelle Foundation in July 2024 as Operations Manager. In her role, she supports the full spectrum of the Foundation’s administrative functions – from guiding grant applicants through the application process and maintaining internal databases, to coordinating board meetings and collaborating on communications such as newsletters and annual reports. Her work ensures the Foundation runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Prior to entering the philanthropic sector, Amie spent 18 years in the retail industry, with the latter part of her career focused on corporate training and development. As an instructional designer, she specialized in technical writing and editing, translating complex systems into accessible resources for the end users. While working full-time, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Business.
A Dallas native, Amie is passionate about community involvement and currently serves as Vice President of Communications on her children’s elementary school PTA board. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and their two daughters.
