NEIL AND TOM LEWIS
Circa 2000
For more than 40 years – since I was in the 10th grade – Tom Lewis and his younger brother, Neil, have been two of my friends who are also two of my heroes. (Neil is about 8 years younger than Tom. I'm a year younger than Neil.)
Tom was a radio newsman after he returned from the service and had gotten his degree from Texas A&M.
And Tom looked especially great when he flew down Galveston’s 39th Street in his circa 1954 MG roadster with the top down, on his way to cover a breaking story.
I wanted to be Tom. And I wanted to have the personable attributes of both Neil and Tom.
Then Tom became a life insurance agent whose clients were primarily those who needed complex coverage. He finally retired, but not before he was nearly 80. (Health issues were starting to get the best of him.)
In 1955 or so, Neil and I were both soda jerks at Fuqua’s Drugs Store. I worked on the air at the radio station then, too.
Neil and I learned a lot about business and customer service from the owner, Luther H. Fuqua.
Neil has been a top producer for well-known South Texas home builders for many years. In recent ones, he's been with Brighton Homes. Before that, D.H. Horton.
As the years have passed, both Tom and Neil and their families have managed their ways through one tragedy after another. Through it all, their families’ and their personal faith have remained strong.
In fact, along the way, both Tom and Neil studied and became Roman Catholic deacons.
That’s a cleric position that is one step down from an ordained priest. I greatly admire those of my friends who, as adults, have chosen this path.
Another deacon is Galveston's former city manager, Doug Matthews.
I thought you’d like to hear what Neil had to say about home sales when he responded to an email I sent him last week:
I'm still working......selling homes for Brighton Homes in Baytown. Contrary to popular belief and the news reports, our business is good. The company sold more homes in Houston last year than any year in our 32 year history. I have been blessed enough to have sold 5 since December 27.
Isn’t that a good sign from a guy who knows what he’s talking about? --- Neil Lewis, a new home salesman who blows no smoke. Never has, never will.
BILL CHERRY, REAL ESTATE BROKER
Dallas – Park Cities
Since 1964
214 503-8563
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