Alzina Caroline Allis Orndorff DeGroff (also known as "Mama De")[1] was an American businesswoman who was involved in civic causes in El Paso, Texas, and West Texas.
DeGroff was born as Alzina Caroline Allis in Washington, Louisiana.[2] She married Lee H. Orndorff in 1876 and the couple had three sons.[2] They moved to Tucson, Arizona.[1] Lee Orndorff died after a railroad accident in 1887.[2][1] The death of Lee Orndorff propelled her into the business world.[1]
Alzina married Charles DeGroff in 1890 and the couple became involved in building hotels.[2][1] In 1899 the family moved to El Paso, Texas, after Alzina decided to buy the Vendome hotel which she renamed Hotel Orndorff.[1] The Hotel Orndorff was a huge success for Alzina and she went on to buy more real estate around the area and in the Lower Valley.[1] In March 1925, she began work on a new hotel that is now known as Hotel Cortez.[1] This hotel was designed by Henry C. Trost.[3]
Alzina DeGroff became the first president of the El Paso Paso Civic Improvement League, which was associated with the El Paso Woman's Club, in 1905.[4] She was also the first president of the El Paso Equal Franchise League, serving for a short time.[2][5] The Franchise League was formed in January of 1915 and the first meeting was held at the Hotel Orndorff.[6] She was appointed to the original board of the directors of the Texas Technological College in Lubbock by Governor Pat Morris Neff in 1923.[1]
DeGroff died on August 10, 1926, after a short illness.[2] Her funeral was held outside of her home and flags of El Paso City Hall were lowered to half-staff after news of her death.[2]
