Nahim Abraham

Nahim Abraham
Born (1885-02-15)February 15, 1885
Kafarakab, Lebanon
Died January 10, 1965(1965-01-10) (aged 79)
Canadian, Hemphill County
Texas, USA
Resting place Edith Ford Cemeteries in Canadian, Texas
Occupation Businessman, philanthropist
Religion Presbyterian Church in the United States
Spouse(s) Alia Abdullah Bulos Malouf Abraham
Children

Naceeb L. Abraham
Tom Abraham
Malouf Abraham, Sr.

Edward Abraham
Relatives

Malouf Abraham, Jr. (grandson)

Salem Abraham (great-grandson)
This article also contains the biography of Nahim Abraham's son, Tom Abraham.

Nahim Abraham (February 15, 1885 – January 10, 1965) was a Lebanese-American merchant and philanthropist who took a leading role in the 20th century development of Canadian, the county seat of Hemphill County in the Texas Panhandle near the Oklahoma border.

Nahim Abraham biography

Early years in Texas

Born Nahim Malouf in the village of Kafarakab, Lebanon, Abraham made three trips to the United States before finally deciding to relocate to a new homeland. He lived briefly in Utah and considered settling in Brazil before he moved to Amarillo, Texas, with his wife, the former Alia Abdullah Bulos (1883-1979), the daughter of a physician, and their two older sons, Naceeb L. Abraham (1907-2000), who operated an office supply business in Amarillo,[1] and Tom Abraham, who later purchased his father's mercantile business. The Maloufs took the name "Abraham" while being processed at Ellis Island in New York City. In the summer of 1913, the Abrahams made their permanent home in Canadian, Texas, where they had two more sons, Malouf Abraham, Sr., and Edward Abraham (1917-1961). Malouf, Sr., was nicknamed "Oofie" by classmates. His given name is the original family surname. In 1913, Abraham established the "Fair Store", a department store known regionally for its quality dry goods merchandise.[2][3][4]

At the time The Fair Store was established, the cattle business was booming with hundreds of drovers in need of supplies. Eventually, the Abrahams moved beyond retailing to real estate and cattle. When ranching began to decline, Malouf, Sr., began to trade oil and natural gas leases.[5] Nahim retired, and the Fair Store was acquired in 1949 by Tom and his wife, Helen.[6]

Community builder

Abraham was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Canadian, and his son, Tom, worked to establish the existing sanctuary of the church.[7] In 1950, Abraham purchased the Moody Hotel in Canadian, which had been founded in 1903 by the rancher and banker Robert Moody. After his son Edward died in 1961 at the age of forty-four, Abraham and his other sons endowed the Edward Abraham Memorial Home, a still-standing nursing facility in Canadian named in Edward's honor.[2]

Abraham died of a heart attack early in 1965, about five weeks before he would have turned eighty. His surviving sons became prominent local businessmen. Malouf, an oilman known as "Oofie", served as mayor of Canadian from 1953 to 1957 and was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives[2] from 1967 to 1971; his political career concluded with an unsuccessful race in 1970 for the Texas State Senate against Democrat Max Sherman for the seat vacated by Grady Hazlewood.[8][9]

Thomas H. "Tom" Abraham
Born (1910-12-08)December 8, 1910
Kafarakab, Lebanon
Died February 8, 2007(2007-02-08) (aged 96)
Canadian, Hemphill County
Texas, USA
Resting place Edith Ford Cemeteries in Canadian, Texas
Alma mater

Canadian High School

Texas Tech University
Occupation Businessman, philanthropist
Political party Republican
Religion Presbyterian Church
Spouse(s) Helen Ferguson Abraham (m. 1935–2007)
Children

Donna Abraham Stainback
Kenneth Abraham

Kay Abraham Brown
Parent(s) Nahim Malouf Abraham and Alia Malouf Abraham
Relatives

Malouf Abraham, Sr. (brother)
Malouf Abraham, Jr. (nephew)
Therese Browne Abraham (niece by marriage)

Salem Abraham (great-nephew)

Tom Abraham biography

Thomas H. Abraham, known as Tom Abraham (December 8, 1910 – February 8, 2007),[10] was a Lebanese-born American businessman and philanthropist in Canadian in Hemphill County in Texas. Canadian has been called "an oasis on the High Plains".

Abraham was born in Kafarakab, Lebanon, to Nahim Malouf Abraham and Alia Abdullah Bulos Malouf Abraham. He was reared in Canadian, having arrived in town with his parents and older brother in 1913, five years after Canadian was incorporated.[11] Nahim and Alia Abraham insisted that their children remember the family roots in Lebanon, which they continued to visit when possible. The couple sent money to help poor relatives in Lebanon or to build a community church or school there.[12] In 1928, Tom Abraham graduated from Canadian High School.[13][14]

Abraham family association with Texas Tech University

In 1932, Abraham graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he played on the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team and was the business manager of The Daily Toreador, the college student newspaper. He helped to launch the Red Raiders Club and was part of the commission which created the Texas Tech Dad's Association, since renamed the Texas Tech Association of Parents. At the time of his death, Abraham was believed to have been the oldest living Texas Tech letterman.[13][14] In 1981, both Tom and Malouf Abraham were named "Distinguished Alumni" of Texas Tech. Tom Abraham was the first Texas Tech graduate to have received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the institution. In 1981, a $5,000 annual scholarship was established in his honor by his brother, Malouf Abraham, Sr., and sister-in-law, Iris Lewis Abraham.[15] The Tom Abraham Graduate Fellowship began with a $65,000 initial donation. More than a dozen of the Hemphill County Abrahams attended or graduated from Texas Tech. Tom Abraham's two daughters and son all graduated from there.[12]

Tom Abraham believes in America. He believes that man's duty is to leave the world better than he found it. During all his life, he has been active in civic affairs, to the betterment of his community and the nation. - Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1980

Merchant, father and son

After graduation from Texas Tech, Abraham worked in the dry goods business in Paducah in Cottle County south of Childress.[16] On April 28, 1935, he married his neighbor, the former Helen Ferguson (August 7, 1915 – February 11, 2008). A native of Merkel near Abilene in Taylor County, Texas, Helen was the daughter of Frank Ferguson and the former Maude Hill.[17] After their marriage, Tom and Helen moved to Canadian to work in his father's department store called "The Fair Store", a business which opened in 1913, only five years after Canadian was incorporated, and was once known throughout the Panhandle for its high-quality merchandise. After Nahim retired, Tom and Helen became the owners of the business in 1949.[1][18] Tom Abraham also held three oil and natural gas leases in adjoining Lipscomb County in the far northeastern corner of the Panhandle.[19]

Edward Abraham Memorial Home

The Abrahams together established the Edward Abraham Memorial Home,[13] a nursing facility in Canadian, which is named for his youngest brother, businessman Edward Abraham (1917-1961).[20] When he died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of forty-four, Edward Abraham, who had been in the jewelry, restaurant, and real estate businesses in Canadian,[21] had been working to establish a community-sponsored nursing home. With a $50,000 initial contribution from the Abraham family,[22] a federal grant, and other funds raised by the community, the facility opened in 1964 with thirty-seven beds; by 1974, the capacity had increased to care for fifty-eight persons.[23]

In 1975, the home had financial problems, a matter believed related to inflation and the failure of the Abrahams to seek community donations: "I think we've been a little to bashful about asking for help," said Tom Abraham.[24] In June 1975, Tom Abraham, representing his family, was honored in Houston by the Texas Association of Homes for the Aging for the Abraham family's commitment to the Edward Abraham Home.[25]

Organizations

Tom Abraham was a member of Rotary International,[26] the Masonic lodge,[13]Shriners,[27]United Way of America,[28] the March of Dimes,[29] the Boy Scouts of America[30] and the youth-mentoring group, Big Brothers.[31] was a volunteer at the River Valley Pioneer Museum, established in Canadian in 1986.[32] He was the auctioneer for the Women Service League.[33] The Abraham Trophy, which was frequently presented by Tom Abraham, is awarded annually to the "most outstanding" eighth grade student in Canadian.[34]

Abraham received "Man of the Year"[13] designation from the Canadian-Hemphill County Chamber of Commerce and served as president more than once[35][36] and on committees of the organization, such as Highways and Lake Marvin, an artificial lake in Hemphill County established for recreation, flood control, soil conservation, wildlife protection.[37][38] In 1979, Abraham was presented the "Key to the City" award by then Mayor George Arrington.[39]

The Abrahams was instrumental in the construction of the original Presbyterian Church in Canadian, Texas.

Tom Abraham was a member of the Hemphill County Appraisal Board, established effective January 1, 1982. The board determines uniform property tax assessment rates for all taxing bodies in the county.[40]

Abraham was a superintendent of worship[41] and later instrumental in building the original sanctuary of his church, the First Presbyterian Church in Canadian.[13]

Patriotic honors

During World War II, Tom Abraham was co-chairman of the United War Chest in Hemphill County.[42] Years later, he received the Americanism Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, an honor given only to immigrants who helped other immigrants obtain United States citizenship.[43][44] In 1976, he chaired the Hemphill County Bicentennial Commission.[45][46] In 1979, then Canadian Mayor George Arrington presented Abraham with the "Key to the City".[47]

In February 1980, Abraham received the "Encased George Washington Honor Medal" from Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.[48] He received a telegram two months earlier on the day of his mother's funeral notifying him of his selection.[49] Abraham's citation reads: "Tom Abraham believes in America. He believes that man's duty is to leave the world better than he found it. During all his life, he has been active in civic affairs, to the betterment of his community and the nation." Honored along with Abraham were U.S. Senator Jake Garn of Utah, former actress and U.S. Ambassador Shirley Temple Black, actor James Stewart, and singer John Denver.[50]

The Republican Abrahams

Abraham's, brother Malouf Abraham, Sr., named for the original family surname, was a wealthy oil and natural gas developer and philanthropist who was mayor of Canadian from 1953 to 1957, and a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1971. His nephew Malouf Abraham, Jr., is a retired Canadian, Texas, physician with specialty in allergies and an active patron of the arts. His niece by marriage, Therese Browne Abraham, was mayor of Canadian from 1981[51] to 1991. All of the Abrahams became Republicans and were generous donors to the party.[52]

In 1953, Tom Abraham attended a dinner in Pampa in which Republican U.S. Representative Walter Judd of Minnesota addressed post-Korean War foreign policy issues during the Cold War.[53] In 1976, Abraham was the Hemphill County chairman for Ronald W. Reagan's insurgent intraparty challenge to U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, Jr.[54] In 1978, Abraham was elected in a write-in vote to succeed Royce Jones as the Hemphill County Republican chairman.[55] In 1980, he was the Hemphill County chairman for the Reagan-Bush ticket.[56]

Tom Abraham's death and legacy

Tom Abraham died of lengthy complications from a stroke in the Hemphill County Hospital in Canadian. In addition to his wife, he was survived by three children, Donna A. Stainback of Greenville, Texas, Kenneth "Ken" Abraham and his wife, Renee Abraham, of Lubbock, and Kay A. Brown and her husband, Terry Brown, of Canadian; nine grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, all three brothers, and a son-in-law, Raiford Hammond Stainback, Jr.[13]

Two of Abraham's minister-granddaughters, Ashley A. Hood and Kari Stainback, officiated at his funeral, which was held in the First Christian Church of Canadian. Tom and Helen Abraham are interred in the Edith Ford Cemeteries in Canadian.[13] Abraham family gravestones mention their origin in Kafarakab but the spelling used is "Kafrakab", without the "a" after the "f." The Texas State Historical Association in an article on Nahim Abraham also uses "Kafrakab".[57]

Tom Abraham grave in the Edith Ford Cemeteries in Canadian, Texas

Tom Abraham's obituary reads that he was known for his kindness to others.[13] He was included in the group "Seven Who Care" from KVII-TV in Amarillo. In 1992, the Amarillo Globe News in a feature article referred to him, accordingly: "Santa Claus is alive and giving in Canadian."[10] The Canadian Record reported at Christmas 1960 that the Abrahams had placed a giant Santa Claus in their front yard.[58] In the 1985 book Hemphill County History, Abraham describes his fellow citizens of Canadian as having pride, purpose, and determination: "I know Canadian folks - they just don't give up."[11]

On February 9, 2006, a year before his death, Abraham was interviewed by the Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University. In this oral history conducted by David Marshall, Abraham discusses his life, career, and education at Texas Tech.[59][60][61]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Syrian and Lebanese Texans: Nahim Abraham (1913)". digital.utsa.edu. 1974. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 H. Allen Anderson. "Abraham, Nahim". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ The Texas State Historical Association used these sources in its biographical sketch of Nahim Abraham: Amarillo Daily News, January 11, 1965; Sallie B. Harris, Cowmen and Ladies: A History of Hemphill County (Canyon, Texas: Staked Plains, 1977), and Stanley F. L. Crocchiola, The Canadian, Texas, Story (Nazareth, Texas, 1975).
  4. ↑ The information from the Texas State Historical Association, along with a 1920s picture of the Fair Store, can be accessed at the website of the River Valley Pioneer Museum in Canadian: "Nahim Abraham, Merchant". River Valley Pioneer Museum. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ Nancy F. Smith (May 26, 2012). "In Unfamiliar Territory: How managed-futures trader Salem Abraham plans to end his recent losing streak. Going long British gilts, German bunds, and canola". Barron's. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Helen Abraham". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. February 15, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Tom Abraham". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. February 9, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Malouf Abraham, Oil & Gas". Amarillo Globe Times, reproduced on River Valley Pioneer Museum website. May 19, 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ Texas Almanac 1972/1973, Election returns from November 3, 1970
  10. 1 2 "Thomas H. "Tom" Abraham". findagrave.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Living in Canadian" (PDF). canadiantx.org. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Three Generations of Abrahams Attend Texas Tech", Texas Tech Business, Winter 1984, pp. 14-15
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tom Abraham". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. February 9, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Tom Abraham, Merchant". River Valley Pioneer Museum. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Abraham Brothers Honored by Texas Tech", Canadian Record, September 24, 1981, p. 14
  16. ↑ Ana Krahmer (May 20, 2014). "An Historical Preservation Effort That Will Live in Perpetuity". The Paducah (Texas) Post. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Helen Abraham". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. February 15, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Nahim Abraham (1885-1965)". findagrave.com. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Oil and Gas Leases in Lipscomb County". texas-drilling.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Edward Abraham". findagrave.com. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Eddie Abraham victim of heart attack Tuesday", Canadian Record, October 26, 1961, pp. 1, 9
  22. ↑ "$50,000 given for rest home: Abraham family invites community to match gifts", Canadian Record, December 16, 1961, p. 4
  23. ↑ "About Us - Edward Abraham Memorial Home". eamemorialhome.org. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Inflation and slow pay: Memorial Home in financial bind", Canadian Record, January 16, 1975, p. 16
  25. ↑ "Abraham family cited", Canadian Record, June 26, 1975, p. 14
  26. ↑ "Career clinic draws top faculty", Canadian Record, May 3, 1962, p. 19
  27. ↑ "Shriners enjoy banquet here Friday evening", Hemphill County News, February 24, 1953, p. 1
  28. ↑ "Hemphill United Fund Goal", October 9, 1980, Canadian Record, p. 24
  29. ↑ "President's Ball", Hemphill County News, January 30, 1942, p. 4
  30. ↑ "Boy Scouts reorganize", Hemphill County News, June 9, 1939, p. 1
  31. ↑ Canadian Record, September 26, 1956, p. 1
  32. ↑ Susan Owens Caudle and River Valley Pioneer Museum (21009). Images of America: Hemphill County. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing Company. p. 112. ISBN 9780738571133. Retrieved September 21, 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ↑ "Women's Service League", Canadian Record, May 4, 1978, p. 24
  34. ↑ "Junior High graduation Thursday", Canadian Record, May 27, 1976, p. 8
  35. ↑ "Junior Livestock Show Saturday: 4-H Club and FFA Boys to compete", Canadian Record, January 6, 1955, p. 1
  36. ↑ "Annual C of C Banquet Saturday night", Canadian Record, January 16, 1975, p. 4
  37. ↑ "Chamber of Commerce committees are appointed for year 1960", Canadian Record, December 31, 1959, p. 1
  38. ↑ "Lake Marvin". tshaonline.org. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  39. ↑ Canadian Record, May 10, 1979, p. 15
  40. ↑ "Five men elected to new appraisal board", Canadian Record, November 26, 1981, p. 12
  41. ↑ "Presbyterian Church", Hemphill County News, February 9, 1940, p. 4
  42. ↑ Hemphill County News, October 15, 1943, p. 1
  43. ↑ "DAR gives medal to Tom Abraham", Canadian Record, May 10, 1979, p. 14
  44. ↑ "County Data for Hemphill County, Texas". landsoftexas.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Standing ovation for Bicentennial Special by crowd of over 300", Canadian Record, April 15, 1976, p. 15
  46. ↑ "Bells will ring here on Fourth of July", Canadian Record, July 1, 1976, p. 4
  47. ↑ "Mayor George Arrington presents the symbolic 'Key to the City' to Tom Abraham", Canadian Record, May 10, 1979, p. 15
  48. ↑ "Tom Abraham accepts Encased George Washington Honor Medal", Canadian Record, February 28, 1980, p. 21
  49. ↑ "Tom Abraham to receive Freedoms Foundation award, Canadian Record, December 6, 1979, pp. 1, 17
  50. ↑ "Tom Abraham to be honored by Freedoms Foundation Feb. 22", Canadian Record, February 14, 1980, p. 19
  51. ↑ "City elects first woman mayor", Canadian Record, April 9, 1981, p. 6
  52. ↑ "CANADIAN, Texas (TX) Political Contributions by Individuals". city-data.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Knife and Fork Club", Hemphill County News, September 24, 1953, p. 1
  54. ↑ "Support a Real Leader" (advertisement), Canadian Record, April 29, 1976, p. 19
  55. ↑ "Only 24 Republican casts in primary" in Hemphill County, Canadian Record, May 11, 1978, p. 11
  56. ↑ Reagan-Bush advertisement, Canadian Record, October 9, 1980, p. 13
  57. ↑ "Nahim Abraham". tshaonline.org. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  58. ↑ Nancy Ezzell, "Many Canadian homes reflect Christmas spirit in bright lights", Canadian Record, December 22, 1960, p. 5
  59. ↑ "Tom Abraham Oral History Interview". Southwest Collections of Texas Tech University. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  60. ↑ Further information on Tom Abraham can be accessed through The Portal to Texas History, which will connect with newspaper articles, particularly the Canadian Record and the Hemphill County News.
  61. ↑ Abraham "The Portal to Texas History: Tom Abraham" Check |url= value (help). texashistoryunt.edu. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.