[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20590]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF ``SNOOKY'' SALEH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a great 
friend and great American, Jameel Joseph ``Snooky'' Saleh, of Tyler, 
Texas, who leaves behind a powerful legacy of hard work, generosity, 
and dedication to his family, community and country. He was a friend to 
so many--and a special friend of mine.
  Snooky passed away in August at the age of 78. The son of Lebanese 
immigrants, he attended Tyler Junior College and spent two years at 
Texas A&M before being called to service in World War II. After the war 
he began a business venture with his brother, George--George Wholesale 
Company. He married his wife of 51 years, Angel Kotsiones of Dallas, in 
1951, and they had three children.
  In 1964 Snooky purchased his brother's interest in the company. His 
son Danny joined the business in 1977 and later became a partner. In 
1998 the father and son team sold the business to free themselves to 
pursue charitable works. Snooky was very generous to the Cathedral of 
the Immaculate Conception and the diocese of Tyler. He supported the 
United Way, American Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, 
Catholic Charities, B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League, and Alexis de 
Tocqueville Society. He also supported the East Texas Food Bank, 
Habitat for Humanity, East Texas Crisis Center, Hospice of East Texas, 
Literacy Council of East Texas and many other agencies.
  Snooky won many awards, including the Southwest Candy Merchandiser of 
the Year in 1984, the National Association of Tobacco Distributors' 
award in 1991, Southwest Tobacco Man of the Year Award in 1992, America 
Wholesale Marketers Annual Citizenship award in 1994, National Catholic 
Charities award in 1995, and the Career Achievement Award of the 
Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors in 1998. He was also a 
recipient of a Texas House of Representatives resolution noting the 
contributions to all the lives he has touched, and he was named an 
honorary Admiral of the Texas Navy.
  He is survived by his wife, Angel; son and daughter-in-law Gerald and 
Barbara Saleh; daughter and son-in-law Beverly Saleh Mamey and husband 
Nelson; son and daughter-in-law Danny and Denise Saleh; sisters Evelyn 
Saleh and Rose Marie Saleh Pilcher; six grandchildren and other family 
members.
  Mr. Speaker, Snooky will be missed by all those who knew him and 
loved him and by all those he helped and who sought his advice--and his 
influence will be felt in Tyler for years to come. As we adjourn today, 
let us do so in tribute to this great American--Jameel Joseph 
``Snooky'' Saleh.

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