H.R. No. 374 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, For more than 40 years, Max and Helen Biderman have 1-2 faithfully served the people of Grand Prairie as the owners and 1-3 managers of Pot's Department Store, and the closing of this local 1-4 institution marks the end of an era for the people of that 1-5 community; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Named for the pots and pans that the previous owner 1-7 sold, Pot's Department Store was bought by the Bidermans in 1952, 1-8 and over the years the store attracted a loyal following of Dallas 1-9 area shoppers who enjoyed the warmth, courtesy, and friendliness 1-10 that the Bidermans extended to all their customers; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Yet few people know the remarkable story of how this 1-12 beloved couple came to settle in Grand Prairie; both Mr. and 1-13 Mrs. Biderman grew up in Lukow, Poland, southeast of Warsaw, and 1-14 they endured the horrors and depredations of the Nazi occupation of 1-15 their homeland during World War II; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Forced into hiding because of their Jewish faith, 1-17 Mr. and Mrs. Biderman lost friends, family, and other loved ones to 1-18 the Holocaust campaign that reduced Lukow's Jewish population from 1-19 15,000 to 100 in a few short years; when the war ended, 1-20 Mrs. Biderman's family home, miraculously spared from the ravages 1-21 of war, became a meeting place for the remaining Jewish community, 1-22 and it was there that the couple met and began their courtship; and 1-23 WHEREAS, They were married in 1946, and three years later 1-24 they immigrated to the United States and settled in Dallas, where 2-1 Mr. Biderman found a job at a factory; the couple's judicious 2-2 management of their money enabled them to buy a small shop on 2-3 Singleton Avenue in Dallas, and within a few years they became the 2-4 proud owners of Pot's Department Store in Grand Prairie; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Like the previous owner, Mr. Biderman soon earned 2-6 the nickname "Mr. Pots," and the Bidermans' old-fashioned policy of 2-7 treating all their customers like family earned them the respect 2-8 and affection of their patrons; the Bidermans have watched as many 2-9 as three generations of some Grand Prairie families come through 2-10 their doors, and although they look forward to a fulfilling and 2-11 well-deserved retirement, they will miss that daily interaction 2-12 with their many friends and neighbors; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Although the people of Grand Prairie will find other 2-14 places to shop, they will never find a replacement for the warmth, 2-15 fellowship, and community spirit of Pot's Department Store; yet 2-16 despite their sadness, the citizens of that town wish only the best 2-17 for Max and Helen Biderman, and the members of this chamber are 2-18 proud to join with them in extending appreciation and highest 2-19 regards to this fine couple; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby honor Max and Helen Biderman for their 2-22 accomplishments as owners of Pot's Department Store and extend to 2-23 them warmest best wishes for continued success and happiness in all 2-24 their future endeavors; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-26 prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Biderman as an expression of highest 2-27 esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.