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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Edward and Alda Nahas of Plano, Texas, are |
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celebrating a notable milestone on April 30, 2011, as that date |
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marks the 40th anniversary of Mr. Nahas's arrival in the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Lebanese citizens Gabriel and Mary Nahas, |
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Edward Gabriel Nahas was living with his family in Libya, where his |
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father held a sensitive communications position, when on September |
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1, 1969, a military coup overthrew the government; both foreigners |
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and Christians, Edward Nahas, his parents, and his brothers, Tony |
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and Maurice, were expelled from Libya with just 24 hours' notice and |
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forced to leave behind their friends, home, and livelihoods; after |
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several months of uncertainty, the family received the support of |
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the American Embassy and secured their new home in the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, Alda Butros, the daughter of John and Mary Butros of |
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Beirut, Lebanon, came to the United States in 1975 to marry Edward |
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Nahas; shortly thereafter, her parents and her siblings, Rima and |
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Laurine Butros, lost their home in the turbulence of the Lebanese |
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civil war and joined her in America; and |
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WHEREAS, Settling in Pasadena, California, the Nahas family |
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opened their own service stations, and Edward Nahas registered for |
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the Selective Service, enrolled in the local community college, and |
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took a second job working nights as a crane operator; he then |
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advanced to a sales position in a Los Angeles-based steel company |
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while Mrs. Nahas worked as a coordinator for Walt Disney Studios |
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post-production services; Mr. Nahas became a U.S. citizen in 1977 |
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and Mrs. Nahas followed suit in 1984; and |
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WHEREAS, The couple moved to Texas in 1985, and Mrs. Nahas |
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focused on raising their two treasured children, Cynthia Marie and |
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John Mark, as her husband accepted an offer at a home-building |
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company and later founded his own construction enterprise, American |
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Homes; he went on to open a granite import and fabrication business |
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in 2001, and Mrs. Nahas went to work for a hotel management and |
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purchasing company, advancing to become a senior project manager; |
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Mr. and Mrs. Nahas were active during this time in their children's |
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school, church, and extracurricular endeavors, including youth |
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soccer, and they also helped create a crime watch program in their |
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neighborhood; in addition, Mr. Nahas volunteered to assist local |
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law enforcement in antiterrorism investigations; and |
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WHEREAS, This inspiring pair experienced the joy of seeing |
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their children graduate from The University of Texas at Austin; |
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continuing her education, their daughter, Cynthia, earned a degree |
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from the UT School of Law, while their son, John Mark, earned a |
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master's degree in real estate development from the University of |
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Southern California; and |
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WHEREAS, Edward and Alda Nahas appreciated the value of their |
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newfound life and liberty and capitalized on every opportunity to |
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attain success and happiness for their family, and their hard work |
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and perseverance in pursuit of these goals are truly worthy of |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 40th anniversary of Mr. Nahas's |
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immigration to the United States and extend to Edward and Alda Nahas |
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sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Nahas as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |