82R7148 MGR-D
By: S. Davis of Harris 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.