Bill Text: TX HR485 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Resolution 485 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: In memory of Joseph W. Samuels of Houston.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-03-14 - Reported enrolled [HR485 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HR485-Enrolled.html



	H.R. No. 485



	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Joseph W. Samuels, owner and publisher of the Jewish
	Herald-Voice and a beloved figure in the Jewish community of
	Houston, passed away on January 19, 2011, at the age of 95; and
	WHEREAS, The eldest of three children, Joe Samuels was born
	in Dallas on December 10, 1915, to Tillie Marion Wiener and Morris
	Joseph Samuels; he lost his father when he was 13 years old and
	spent the next five years with his siblings in the Jewish Children's
	Home in New Orleans; and
	WHEREAS, Settling in Houston at the age of 18, Mr. Samuels
	worked at the post office, sold Remington typewriters, and produced
	dramas for a local radio station, and he was later able to further
	his education by taking classes at Rice University and the
	University of Houston; he met the love of his life, Jeanne, at a
	city bus stop, and the two were married in 1943; after enlisting in
	the U.S. Army Air Corps, he served in Africa and Europe during World
	War II, and then remained in the reserve until he retired with the
	rank of lieutenant colonel; and
	WHEREAS, On returning to Houston after the war, Mr. Samuels
	opened a record and radio shop with his brother, and the two took
	turns managing the business while completing their degrees; he and
	his wife also began their family, and their son, Marc, was born in
	1948, followed by two daughters, Maurene and Vicki; he helped found
	the B'nai B'rith Downtown Lodge and published its newsletter, and he
	later opened an insurance agency and a real estate office; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Samuels purchased the Jewish
	Herald-Voice in 1973 and began a remarkable tenure as owners and
	publishers that lasted for nearly four decades; under the direction
	of the couple, the newspaper, which has been in print for more than
	a century and is one of the oldest Jewish papers in the country, has
	consistently championed the underdog and worked to fight injustice;
	in addition, by overseeing the Jewish Herald-Voice, Mr. Samuels was
	able to realize a dream held by his father, who had run a printing
	business but had not lived long enough to begin a Jewish newspaper
	of his own; and
	WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan was a friend to synagogues and
	organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston,
	Jewish Family Service of Houston, Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care
	Services, and Holocaust Museum Houston; he was also a strong
	supporter of the nation of Israel, visiting there more than a dozen
	times, and receiving the Defender of Jerusalem Award along with his
	wife in 2002; moreover, he gave financial backing to the Jewish
	Children's Regional Service and hosted reunions for others who had
	lived in the New Orleans children's home where he spent part of his
	youth; and
	WHEREAS, Through industry and tireless advocacy, Joe Samuels
	became a legendary figure in his community, and his efforts did much
	to promote unity, shared values, and mutual assistance among the
	Jewish citizens of Houston and the State of Texas; now, therefore,
	be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Joseph W. Samuels
	and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
	wife of 67 years, Jeanne Samuels; to his children, Marc Samuels and
	his wife, Maylee, Maurene Bencal and her husband, Michael, and
	Vicki Samuels Levy and her husband, Lawrence; to his grandchildren,
	Wendy Waterman, Amy Duke and her husband, Jesse DeMartino, Michael
	Duke and his wife, Naomi, Matthew Samuels and his wife, Kristy,
	Daniel Waterman, David Duke and his wife, Lan, Benjamin Samuels,
	Caroline Samuels, Sam Levy, Rebekah Levy, and Kimberly Bencal; to
	his great-grandchildren, Alyssa Campbell, Isabel Duke, Cameron
	Samuels, Joseph Duke, and Dylan Samuels; to his brother, Alvin "A.
	Pat" Samuels; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be
	it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe
	Samuels.

	S. Davis of Harris
	Miles
	Hochberg

	______________________________
	Speaker of the House

	I certify that H.R. No. 485 was unanimously adopted by a
	rising vote of the House on March 3, 2011.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House