82R12229 MGR-D
By: Legler H.R. No. 816
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of a respected entrepreneur is
indeed cause for celebration, and Sam W. Meineke of League City is
marking this important milestone on March 19, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Born in 1931 in Oklahoma, Sam Meineke learned at an
early age the value of hard work; the son of a sharecropper, he
picked cotton seven days a week and distracted himself from the
job's physical demands by dreaming of a future in which he would
attain the success of men like Henry Ford and Andrew Carnegie, whom
he'd read about in school; and
WHEREAS, His family left the cotton fields in 1944 to come to
Pasadena, Texas; there Mr. Meineke quickly found employment mowing
lawns in the neighborhood and working at a filling station;
throughout high school he continued to work, sometimes holding down
three jobs at a time in order to contribute to the family finances
and save what he could; and
WHEREAS, By the time he was 21, he was able to make a down
payment on the purchase of a service station, and with a friend from
high school, he invested in a number of other ventures; although
most of these ultimately lost money, he learned from his mistakes
and persevered; in 1957, the pair opened Bass and Meineke Auto
Parts, and the store became a success; by 1970, when Mr. Meineke
sold his share to his partner, the business had grown into a
lucrative chain of 12 stores; and
WHEREAS, Eager for a new opportunity, Mr. Meineke opened his
first muffler shop later that same year; he expanded to four
additional locations and, together with Harold Nedell, an
experienced manager in the industry, decided to franchise the
company; by the time the business was sold in 1983, there were
hundreds of Meineke Car Care Centers throughout the United States
and beyond; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Meineke has enjoyed the
love and support of his wife, Sadye, and their six children, Cheri
Meineke-Johnson, Deborah Zonana, Peggy Meineke, Sherrye Bourgeois,
Jerre Barron, and Brian Barron; the couple have also shared in the
joy of welcoming into their family eight grandchildren, Ryan and
Samantha Zonana, Lacey Derrington, Jerred, Kerre, Justin, and
Brandi Barron, and Jeremy Faggard, as well as a great-grandchild,
Thomas Derrington; and
WHEREAS, The remarkable journey of Sam Meineke, from
impoverished sharecropper to prosperous business magnate,
constitutes a quintessential Texas success story, and his 80th
birthday provides a welcome opportunity to recognize his many
inspiring achievements along the way; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Sam W. Meineke on the occasion of
his 80th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for
continued happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Meineke as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.