Sutton ends iconic, influential career with Howard Hughes By Jeff Forward, Staff writer Iconic and multi-faceted Howard Hughes Corp. executive Alex Sutton retired Dec. 4 after 26 years of helping to create The Woodlands. Although he’ll no longer be going into the office each day, he doesn’t need to go far to be reminded of his impact on what is considered one of the top master-planned communities in America. Sutton, with his wife Sharon, resides along The Woodlands Waterway — the 1.8 mile canal he helped make a reality after his partner in design — Robert Heineman — theorized the signature element of The Woodlands on a dinner napkin.