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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Baytown and the Greek community of |
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Southeast Texas lost a devoted friend with the death of George Sam |
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Saphos on January 30, 2011, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Galveston on September 7, 1925, Mr. Saphos |
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answered his nation's call to duty as a young man and served with |
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the U.S. Army Air Forces; he graduated from the University of |
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Pittsburgh, where he majored in electrical engineering and played |
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on the Pitt football team; after college, he worked with Sargent |
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Electric in Pittsburgh before returning to Texas and beginning a |
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long, productive career with Merit Electric in Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, A patriotic American who loved his country, Mr. |
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Saphos was equally proud of his Greek heritage, and he did much to |
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instill a love and appreciation for Greek culture and traditions in |
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his extended family and friends; he was active in Kavo-Papas, the |
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Houston Chapter of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood of America, and he |
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served many terms as an officer of the charitable organization, on |
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occasion leading the group as president; reportedly the oldest, |
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longest-standing member of the national brotherhood, he was also a |
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member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Saphos shared a rewarding marriage of 47 years |
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with his wife, Maria; they were blessed with three children, |
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Isabel, Alex, and Mike, as well as three grandchildren, whom he |
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especially loved spending time with; devoted to his faith, he was a |
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longtime member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in |
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Houston, and he later attended St. John the Theologian Greek |
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Orthodox Church in Webster; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to competing for many years in the |
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Baytown Bowling League, Mr. Saphos was an avid golfer and held |
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membership in the Goose Creek Country Club; he was also an |
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enthusiastic gardener and pinochle player; and |
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WHEREAS, George Saphos enjoyed a life that was rich in |
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family, friends, and accomplishments, and he leaves behind a record |
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of service and achievement that will be forever remembered with |
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pride by all who held him close in their hearts; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of George Sam Saphos |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Maria Lardas Saphos; to his daughter and son-in-law, Isabel |
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and Lee Mitchell; to his sons and daughters-in-law, Alex and |
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Melissa Saphos and Mike and Michelle Saphos; to his grandsons, |
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George Mitchell, Travis Mitchell, and Christopher Saphos; and to |
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his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of George Sam |
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Saphos. |
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Bonnen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1255 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 21, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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