B. P. Newman
| Bernard Pearce "B. P." Newman
(Texas businessman and | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 12, 1927 Red River County, Texas, USA |
| Died | October 25, 2008 (aged 80) Laredo, Webb County, Texas |
| Spouse | Peggy Jean Behelar Newman (married 1950-2008, his death) Children: |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
Bernard Pearce Newman (December 12, 1927 – October 25, 2008), usually known as B. P. Newman or Bob Newman, was a business entrepreneur, real estate developer, civic leader, and philanthropist in Laredo, Texas. Newman Elementary School there is named in his honor.
Background
Newman was born in Red River County in northeast Texas to Thomas Newman and the former Veda Newman Scotti (1907–1995). While attending college in Dallas, he met Peggy Jean Behelar (born 1932). They wed in 1950 and during their fifty-eight year marriage had four children.[1]
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
In 1951, Foremost Dairies was then the third largest dairy cooperative in the nation.[2] In 1964, Newman purchased the Foremost distributorship in Laredo, the largest city in south Texas. From his initial capitalization of the Laredo Foremost distributorship, he launched B. P. Newman Enterprises and built a business empire of restaurants, subdivisions, apartments, and ranches.
B. P. Newman Enterprises eventually brought the Church's Chicken and Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits fried chicken franchises to Laredo. By 1989, Newman owned five Popeye's franchises in Laredo and Austin, Texas, all sixteen Church's outlets in El Paso and planned to build an additional ten Popeye's.[3] In 1990, Newman and architect Jack Rice Turner developed a 10-story, 46-unit building in Corpus Christi, known as the Twin Dolphins, then the third high-rise condominium in that city.[4] In 1991, Newman was a significant Popeyes and Church's franchisee, having forty-one stores, primarily Church's, in El Paso, Laredo, and the Shreveport, Louisiana, market.[5]
By 2004, Newman was a top contributor to the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits restaurant chain and was one of only two worldwide Popeyes restaurant franchisees to receive Popeye's Gold Plate Award, the most important award given by Popeyes management.[6]
Newman also owned ranches, apartments, and office buildings in Laredo, El Paso, Longview and Marshall, Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, Las Cruces, New Mexico,[7] and Shreveport. He developed the Laredo neighborhoods of Chaparral, Vista Hermosa, and Sierra Vista.[1] During his lifetime, Newman donated the land for two Laredo schools: Newman Elementary School at 1300 Alta Vista Drive in the Valle Alto subdivision off McPherson Road, the Dr. Sigifredo Perez Elementary School at 500 Sierra Vista. The Newmans launched the first lot for Habitat for Humanity in Laredo. He gave the land too for the B. P. Newman Park and the B. P. and Peggy Newman Recreation Center.[1]
Death and legacy
Newman died at Laredo Medical Center of complications from long-term Alzheimer's disease. Ronald Belford "Ron" Scott, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Laredo from 2002 to 2012, of which Newman was a member, recalled that the businessmanhelped a lot of kids go to college through the B.P. Newman Scholarship Fund at Texas A&M International University and provided for others in need. B. P.'s and Peggy's example of love and sacrifice is noticeable. His was a life reflective of one lived out by Jesus Christ.[8]
At Newman's funeral, Javier de Anda, vice president of B. P. Newman Investments and Newman's son-in-law, read from a letter:
B. P., many of us gather here as a testimony to how much you've helped them. We will feel your loss in countless ways. For those of us here strong in faith, we know our loss is merely temporary. B.P., we thank God for your presence in our lives."[8]
Newman is interred in the Masonic lodge section of Laredo City Cemetery.[8] After his death, his wife Peggy became the chief executive officer of B. P. Newman Investments.[1] In 2012, Peggy Newman was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Laredo Gateway Rotary International.[9]
The Laredo political leadership lauded Newman. In a statement to The Laredo Morning Times, state Representative Richard Pena Raymond recalled Newman asone of the great giants of Laredo. He was a great entrepreneur and has helped expand our economy and create a vibrant city. We will always look back at what he did to build our city economically. Mrs. Newman is a pillar; we love her and our hearts go out to her and her family.
State Senator Judith Pappas Zaffirini of Laredo called the Newmans "Laredo's first power couple."[10]
U.S. Representative Henry Roberto Cuellar of Laredo told The Laredo Morning Times that Newman wasan excellent business person [who] cared a lot for Laredo. ... I believe Bob's spirit will live on ... He always had a big smile, kind word ... always had the right thing to say. He was a kind, noble man.
Then Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas called Newman "a true gentleman, a man who cared a lot for Laredo and cared for the community. He gave so much of himself. His generosity has helped many organizations throughout our city. He will always be remembered as a man with a big heart."[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bob P. Newman, 80, of Laredo, passes away at Laredo Medical Center," The Laredo Morning Times, October 27, 2008.
- ↑ Pamela J. Karg (June 2000). Pages from the Past: Foremost farms traces its name to J.C. Penney. Rural Development - United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on November 8, 2008; no longer on-line.
- ↑ Brooks, Steve. (September 23, 1989) The New Orleans Times-Picayune, Copland's Debt Plan Counts on , Section: CC; Page C1.
- ↑ Dinae S. Morales, "It's all about the view. Condo has been haven for couple who once owned Luby's location," Corpus Christi Caller-Times, February 25, 2007, Sunday Homes Section, accessed November 8, 2008.
- ↑ Mike Hughlett," Copeland Would Take Flavor With Him," Money section, The New Orleans Times-Picayune,accesed November 8, 2008
- ↑ Melissa Libby (April 12, 2004). Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits Recognizes Top Franchise and Supplier Performers at Annual Conference. PrimeZone. Retrieved on November 8, 2008; no longer on-line.
- ↑ B P Newman Investment Co (Church's Chicken). ECNext Inc (2008). Retrieved on November 8, 2008; no longer on-line.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 B. P. Newman obituary, The Laredo Morning Times, October 30, 2008.
- ↑ Laredo Morning Times, November 10, 2012, p. 14A.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Joe Rutland (October 28, 2008). Love flows for Newman. The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved on November 8, 2008; no longer on-line.
