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'''Thomas H. Abraham,''' known as '''Tom Abraham''' (December 8, 1910 &ndash; February 8, 2007),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17867348|title=Thomas H. "Tom" Abraham|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref> was a [[Lebanon|Lebanese]]-born [[American]] businessman and philanthropist in the city of Canadian in Hemphill County, [[Texas]]. Canadian has been called "an [[oasis]] on the High Plains" of the Texas Panhandle.

'''Thomas H. Abraham,''' known as '''Tom Abraham''' (December 8, 1910 &ndash; February 8, 2007),<ref name=findagrave>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17867348|title=Thomas H. "Tom" Abraham|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref> was a [[Lebanon|Lebanese]]-born [[American]] businessman and philanthropist in the city of Canadian in Hemphill County, [[Texas]]. Canadian has been called "an [[oasis]] on the High Plains" of the Texas Panhandle.

Abraham was born in Kafarakab, Lebanon, to Nahim Malouf Abraham (1885-1965) and Alia Abdullah Bulos Malouf Abraham (1883-1969). He was reared in Canadian, at which he arrived with his parents and older brother in 1913, five years after Canadian was incorporated.<ref name=hcbook/> Nahim and Alia Abraham insisted that their children remember the family roots in Lebanon, which they continued to visit when possible. The couple sent money to help poor relatives in Lebanon or to build a community church or school there.<ref name=textechbus/> In 1928, Tom Abraham graduated from Canadian High School.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/020907/obi_020907080.shtml|title=Tom Abraham|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=February 9, 2007|accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name=rvmuseum>{{cite web|url=http://www.rivervalleymuseum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152:tom-abraham-merchant&catid=37:commerce-history&Itemid=262|title=Tom Abraham, Merchant|publisher=River Valley Pioneer Museum|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>

Abraham was born in Kafarakab, Lebanon, to Nahim Malouf Abraham (1885-1965) and Alia Abdullah Bulos Malouf Abraham (1883-1969). He was reared in Canadian, at which he arrived with his parents and older brother in 1913, five years after Canadian was incorporated.<ref name=hcbook/> Nahim and Alia Abraham insisted that their children remember the family roots in Lebanon, which they continued to visit when possible. The couple sent money to help poor relatives in Lebanon or to build a community church or school there.<ref name=textechbus/> In 1928, Tom Abraham graduated from Canadian High School.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/020907/obi_020907080.shtml|title=Tom Abraham|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=February 9, 2007|accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name=rvmuseum>{{cite web|url=http://www.rivervalleymuseum.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152:tom-abraham-merchant&catid=37:commerce-history&Itemid=262|title=Tom Abraham, Merchant|publisher=River Valley Pioneer Museum|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>

==Merchant, father and son==

==Merchant, father and son==

After graduation from Texas Tech, Abraham worked in the dry goods business in Paducah in Cottle County south of Childress, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.library.unt.edu/tdnp/2014/05/20/15/|title=An Historical Preservation Effort That Will Live in Perpetuity|publisher=''The Paducah (Texas) Post''|date=May 20, 2014|author=Ana Krahmer|accessdate=September 22, 2014}}</ref> On April 28, 1935, he married his neighbor, the former Helen Ferguson (August 7, 1915 &ndash; February 11, 2008). A native of Merkel near Abilene in Taylor County, Texas, Helen was the daughter of Frank Ferguson and the former Maude Hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/021508/obi_247110470.shtml|title=Helen Abraham|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=February 15, 2008|accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref> After their marriage, Tom and Helen moved to Canadian to work in his father's department store, "The Fair Store", a business which opened in 1913, only five years after Canadian was incorporated, and was once known throughout the Panhandle for its high-quality merchandise. After Nahim retired, Tom and Helen became the owners of the business in 1949.<ref name="digital.utsa.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48065904|title=Nahim Abraham (1885-1965)|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Tom Abraham also held three [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] leases in adjoining Lipscomb County in the far northeastern corner of the Panhandle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texas-drilling.com/lipscomb-county/leases|title=Oil and Gas Leases in Lipscomb County|publisher=texas-drilling.com|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> His brother, Malouf, Sr., held oil and gas leases in all the Panhandle counties bordering [[Oklahoma]].

After graduation from Texas Tech, Abraham worked in the dry goods business in Paducah in Cottle County south of Childress, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.library.unt.edu/tdnp/2014/05/20/15/|title=An Historical Preservation Effort That Will Live in Perpetuity|publisher=''The Paducah (Texas) Post''|date=May 20, 2014|author=Ana Krahmer|accessdate=September 22, 2014}}</ref> On April 28, 1935, he married his neighbor, the former Helen Ferguson (August 7, 1915 &ndash; February 11, 2008). A native of Merkel near Abilene in Taylor County, Texas, Helen was the daughter of Frank Ferguson and the former Maude Hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/021508/obi_247110470.shtml|title=Helen Abraham|publisher=''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=February 15, 2008|accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref> After their marriage, Tom and Helen moved to Canadian to work in his father's department store, "The Fair Store", a business which opened in 1913, only five years after Canadian was incorporated, and was once known throughout the Panhandle for its high-quality merchandise. After Nahim retired, Tom and Helen became the owners of the business in 1949.<ref name="digital.utsa.edu">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48065904|title=Nahim Abraham (1885-1965)|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 20, 2014}}</ref> Tom Abraham also held three [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] leases in adjoining Lipscomb County in the far northeastern corner of the Panhandle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texas-drilling.com/lipscomb-county/leases|title=Oil and Gas Leases in Lipscomb County|publisher=texas-drilling.com|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> His brother, Malouf, Sr., held oil and gas leases in all the Panhandle counties bordering [[Oklahoma]].

==Edward Abraham Memorial Home==

==Edward Abraham Memorial Home==

The Abrahams together established the Edward Abraham Memorial Home,<ref name=obit/> a nursing facility in Canadian, which is named for the youngest of the Abraham sons, businessman Edward Abraham (1917-1961).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48392146|title=Edward Abraham|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 20, 2014}}</ref> When he died suddenly of a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] at the age of forty-four, Edward Abraham, who had been in the jewelry, restaurant, and real estate businesses in Canadian,<ref>"Eddie Abraham victim of heart attack Tuesday", ''Canadian Record'', October 26, 1961, pp. 1, 9.</ref> had been working to establish a community-sponsored nursing home. With a $50,000 initial contribution from the Abraham family,<ref>"$50,000 given for rest home: Abraham family invites community to match gifts", ''Canadian Record'', December 16, 1961, p. 4.</ref> a federal grant, and other funds raised by the community, the facility opened in 1964 with thirty-seven beds; by 1974, the capacity had increased to care for fifty-eight persons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eamemorialhome.org/?page_id=51|title=About Us - Edward Abraham Memorial Home|publisher=eamemorialhome.org|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>

The Abrahams together established the Edward Abraham Memorial Home,<ref name=obit/> a nursing facility in Canadian, which is named for the youngest of the Abraham sons, businessman Edward Abraham (1917-1961).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48392146|title=Edward Abraham|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=September 20, 2014}}</ref> When he died suddenly of a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] at the age of forty-four, Edward Abraham, who had been in the jewelry, restaurant, and real estate businesses in Canadian,<ref>"Eddie Abraham victim of heart attack Tuesday", ''Canadian Record'', October 26, 1961, pp. 1, 9.</ref> had been working to establish a community-sponsored nursing home. With a $50,000 initial contribution from the Abraham family,<ref>"$50,000 given for rest home: Abraham family invites community to match gifts", ''Canadian Record'', December 16, 1961, p. 4.</ref> a federal grant, and other funds raised by the community, the facility opened in 1964 with thirty-seven beds; by 1974, the capacity had increased to care for fifty-eight persons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eamemorialhome.org/?page_id=51|title=About Us - Edward Abraham Memorial Home|publisher=eamemorialhome.org|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref>

In 1975, the home had financial problems, a matter believed related to [[inflation]] and the failure of the Abrahams to seek community donations: "I think we've been a little to bashful about asking for help," said Tom Abraham.<ref>"Inflation and slow pay: Memorial Home in financial bind", ''Canadian Record'', January 16, 1975, p. 16.</ref> In June 1975, Tom Abraham, representing his family, was honored in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] by the Texas Association of Homes for the Aging for the Abraham family's commitment to the Edward Abraham Home.<ref>"Abraham family cited", ''Canadian Record'', June 26, 1975, p. 14.</ref>

In 1975, the home had financial problems, a matter believed related to [[inflation]] and the failure of the Abrahams to seek community donations: "I think we've been a little to bashful about asking for help," said Tom Abraham.<ref>"Inflation and slow pay: Memorial Home in financial bind", ''Canadian Record'', January 16, 1975, p. 16.</ref> In June 1975, Tom Abraham, representing his family, was honored in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] by the Texas Association of Homes for the Aging for the Abraham family's commitment to the Edward Abraham Home.<ref>"Abraham family cited", ''Canadian Record'', June 26, 1975, p. 14.</ref>