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eral years , Louis Farris came back home to Palestine and went to work |
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with his father . Louis married Victoria Gani . They had four sons – Louis | |||||||
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The Farris family of Palestine has a long legacy of economic success that began a world away in Tripoli , Lebanon . Over the years , this family has successfully navigated economic pitfalls , family crises and cultural changes that could have led to financial catastrophes . They are a family that honors the grandest of personal lifetime achievements with humility , celebrating with a legacy of economic contributions to the community they dearly love . Four things have always been important to the Farris ’ s : family , finances , food and football .
Abraham Farris was born in
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Jr ., Richard , Robert and Michael . Louis branched off from that general store business and opened a store that specialized in ladies ’ apparel .
Brothers Louis and William became partners and Farris ’ Apparel for Women was opened at 211 W . Oak in Palestine in a beautifully decorated building that featured all the top name brands in women ’ s clothing . This was the first business in Palestine to have carpeted floors and air conditioning . This store was located between Main and Spring . In 1949 , the Farris brothers purchased the old Palestine Theater in order to double the size of their operation .
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Tripoli but his father died before |
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his birth . When he was still very young , a Greek Orthodox priest came to the boy ’ s home and told his mother that Abraham should begin his journey into the priesthood . Abraham ’ s mother had no choice but to send her son to the church because as a widow with a young child , she had few options . |
Merchandise Store closed in 1947 . Upon closing the store , Abraham Farris , Sr . and his three sons , Louis , Tony and William , opened a cotton buying operation . The Farris ’ s purchased the first bale of cotton sold in 1952 from the Shelton Gin Company .
Louis ’ son Richard ’ s eyes light up when he talks about his
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Abraham |
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childhood . He recalls afternoons |
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sent to New York to continue his training . He arrived at Ellis Island with only 50 cents in his pocket . Soon after he arrived , he became curious about an uncle who was a businessman in San Antonio . At some point ,
Abraham decided to travel to
Richard A . Farris Sr . and his son Richard A . Farris Jr .
Texas to meet the uncle . Abraham
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of Roy Rogers westerns at the movies , playing along the sidewalks of his family ’ s businesses and telling of booming Palestine economy with dapper dressed men and women downtown . He remembers an entire community
COURTESY PHOTO of Lebanese immigrant families who were connected by bloodlines
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was amazed by the hustle and bustle |
and culture . Richard Farris is well |
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of the marketplace there and talked his uncle into going into business with him . Abraham returned to New York , denounced his priesthood and came back to Texas and went into business . At the time Abraham spoke only Arabic . He would become fluent in five languages .
After making some money , Abraham , now 22 years old , returned to Lebanon to marry his bride , a 12-year-old girl whom he had been betrothed to through an arranged marriage , as was the custom in those days . Abraham Farris , his wife , Mary , and his mother returned to Texas . The family lived in Fredonia before making their way to East Texas in the 1890s .
Abraham Farris , his wife , and his mother first saw Palestine from a train as they were passing through . When Farris looked out and saw the diversity in ethnicity , he realized the economic opportunities that were possible , so he told his wife this is where they would live .
Abraham Farris established his store between Spring and Main St . The store carried dry goods , buttons , accessories , dresses , men ’ s clothing , shoes and fabric . In the late 1920s , the store was moved to the corner of Oak and Magnolia . Mary Farris , Abraham ’ s wife , was often seen sitting at the back door of the store , crocheting booties for ladies while they shopped in the store . Abraham and Mary had three sons – Louis , William and Tony . Louis spent time working in Jacksonville with the Bando family at the Bando Candy Kitchen as a young boy . After working there for sev-
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remembered as an all-state linebacker and guard for Palestine in 1957 before going on to play ball for Tyler Junior college where he was an All-American linebacker and guard . He later transferred to North Texas State where he was named All-American for a second time .
Richard Farris played for the Loss Angeles Rams in 1963 . He played in many games , including the 18th Annual Los Angeles Times Charity Football Game Rams vs . Cowboys in the Coliseum in Aug . 1963 and was featured in many sporting magazines like Sports Illustrated and Texas Football . The doors were open for Richard to have a pro-football career , with offers form several pro teams including the New York Giants and the Cowboys , but knowing how much his father Louis wanted him to go into the family business , Richard turned his back on a football career and joined the family business with his brother , Louis , Jr .
Starting out working as a stock boy and working his way to the storeroom floor , Richard recalls with fondness the days he worked with his father . “ My dad was so good at dressing Palestine ,” he said . “ He knew what his customers liked and he knew all of their sizes . When he ordered new stock , he already had some body in mind for those outfits . He knew what would sell here and what would not . He was the ultimate businessman .”
This shop has been called the Neiman ’ s of East Texas . In fact , the store carried all the same brands that Nieman ’ s carried and was filled with the finest designer clothing furs and shoes . A long time customer
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