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
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Allen Gooden Murphy Allen Gooden Murphy
Allen Gooden Murphy
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Aycock Harless Parker Aycock Harless Parker
Aycock Harless Parker
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Berman Hartnett Paxton Berman Hartnett Paxton
Berman Hartnett Paxton
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Branch Hochberg Phillips Branch Hochberg Phillips
Branch Hochberg Phillips
Brown Hopson Pickett Brown Hopson Pickett
Brown Hopson Pickett
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burnam Howard of Travis Price Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Button Huberty Quintanilla Button Huberty Quintanilla
Button Huberty Quintanilla
Cain Hughes Raymond Cain Hughes Raymond
Cain Hughes Raymond
Callegari Hunter Reynolds Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Carter Isaac Riddle Carter Isaac Riddle
Carter Isaac Riddle
Castro Jackson Ritter Castro Jackson Ritter
Castro Jackson Ritter
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Christian Keffer Schwertner Christian Keffer Schwertner
Christian Keffer Schwertner
Coleman King of Parker Scott Coleman King of Parker Scott
Coleman King of Parker Scott
Cook King of Taylor Sheets Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
Deshotel Lavender Strama Deshotel Lavender Strama
Deshotel Lavender Strama
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dutton Lozano Thompson Dutton Lozano Thompson
Dutton Lozano Thompson
Eiland Lucio III Torres Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eissler Lyne Truitt Eissler Lyne Truitt
Eissler Lyne Truitt
Elkins Madden Turner Elkins Madden Turner
Elkins Madden Turner
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Margo Villarreal Farrar Margo Villarreal
Farrar Margo Villarreal
Fletcher Marquez Vo Fletcher Marquez Vo
Fletcher Marquez Vo
Flynn Martinez Walle Flynn Martinez Walle
Flynn Martinez Walle
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Gallego McClendon White Gallego McClendon White
Gallego McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley Garza Menendez Woolley
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman Geren Miles Workman
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
______________________________
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
Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
Allen Gooden Murphy
Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
Aycock Harless Parker
Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
Berman Hartnett Paxton
Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
Branch Hochberg Phillips
Brown Hopson Pickett
Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
Burnam Howard of Travis Price
Button Huberty Quintanilla
Cain Hughes Raymond
Callegari Hunter Reynolds
Carter Isaac Riddle
Castro Jackson Ritter
Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
Christian Keffer Schwertner
Coleman King of Parker Scott
Cook King of Taylor Sheets
Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
Deshotel Lavender Strama
Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
Dutton Lozano Thompson
Eiland Lucio III Torres
Eissler Lyne Truitt
Elkins Madden Turner
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Margo Villarreal
Fletcher Marquez Vo
Flynn Martinez Walle
Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
Gallego McClendon White
Garza Menendez Woolley
Geren Miles Workman
Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas