Samuel Jacob Salim, Sr. (Sam), 77, of Beaumont died Monday, July 17, 2006 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth.
Sam was born to Nick and Essie Moses Salim on December 11, 1928 in Beaumont, Texas and attended public schools and graduated from Beaumont High School in 1947. He attended Lamar College on a football scholarship, playing tackle and guard, and earned All-American honors in 1948 and 1949. His teammates nicknamed him “Sabu”. Sam was inducted into the Lamar Hall of Honor in 1976. At Lamar, he majored in electrical and machine theory. After graduation from Lamar, he attended North Texas University also on a football scholarship.
Sam married Martha Jo Smith on August 16, 1950 and following his college years, Sam worked for Mobil Oil for thirty-eight years. During his early marriage years, he served for seven years as an Engine Mate in the United States Naval Reserve. He served as a building inspector, construction supervisor and senior ship supervisor for Mobil Construction Service Incorporated and was well known as a hard worker. He had an instinct for supervision, an eye for detail and a sense of perfection toward his job performance. He also expected each person working with him to carry his own weight and do his best job. When Sam was in charge of a job, everyone knew it would be done right! Those characteristics led to his service in Indonesia as a supervisor for Mobil Oil International. From 1977 to 1989, Sam and his wife Martha lived in Indonesia and each of them learned to write and speak the native language.
Sam had a passion for the outdoors; he was an avid hunter and especially enjoyed hunting deer, doves, turkey and quail. He owned a ranch in West Texas, where he enjoyed hunting and shared his expertise and experiences with his sons and grandchildren. Mr. Salim was a member of the Shriner’s of Southeast Texas and could often be found collecting for the Shriners Children’s Burn Institute or passing out circus tickets. He was also an active member of the Local 1320 Masonic Temple.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Essie Moses Salim; and a grandson, Daniel Jacob Salim. He is survived by his wife, Martha Smith Salim; two sons, Samuel Jacob Salim, Jr. and his wife Beverly Franklin Salim and Nicholas Joe Salim and his wife Mary Ellen Hale Salem; granddaughter, Maria Salim LeBlue and her husband Frank LeBlue, III; grandsons, David and Adam Salim; great grandsons, Jakob and Gavin LeBlue; sister, Barbara Salim Robertson and her husband Bill of El Dorado, Arkansas; brother, Mike Salim and his wife Beth of Dumas, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 22, 2006 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with Reverend Ruby Nelson presiding, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive with a Masonic burial at Magnolia Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be the 1949 Lamar University Football Team and the El Mina Shriners. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday evening July 21, 2006 from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 4445 Pershing, Beaumont, Texas 77705, Shriners Burn Hospital, Attention: Administration, 815 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550, Ubi-Caratas Community Clinic and Health Center, 4400 Highland Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77705 or the Sam Salim Memorial Scholarship c/o Lamar University, P.O. Box 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
