FRED P. GATTAS, 77, of Memphis, chairman of the board of Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co., died Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Mass will be said at noon today at St. Louis Catholic Church, where he was a communicant, with burial in Memorial Park. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. The family requests that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Endowment Fund. (Published in The Commercial Appeal on June 13, 1992)
Fred P. Gattas, founder of the Memphis-based showroom and catalog merchandising company that bears his name, died at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 77. Mr. Gattas, chairman of the board of Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc., died after a long illness. Mass will be said at noon today at St. Louis Catholic Church, where he was a communicant, with burial in Memorial Park. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Mr. Gattas began his business career in 1933 after graduating from Clarksdale (Miss.) High School. He sold candy, tobacco and specialties to merchants in the Mississippi Delta and peddled Italian bedspreads door-to- door. Today, Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc. is a multimillion-dollar operation with three stores in Memphis and one each in Jonesboro, Ark., Tupelo and Greenville, Miss. Mr. Gattas was a close friend of the late entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was vice chairman emeritus of the executive committee of the board of governors of St. Jude and a former member of the executive committee of American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fund-raising arm of the hospital. In 1982, Mr. Gattas received the brotherhood award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and was credited 'with extraordinary effort in selling the city of Memphis to the state, nation and world.' Mr. Gattas moved to Memphis from Clarksdale in 1945 and purchased W. B. Dunagan Wholesale Co., a specialty wholesale business. Later, he erected a building at 574 S. Main and began manufacturing candy, in addition to selling tobacco, candy and specialty wholesale items. In 1955, Mr. Gattas converted to the giftware, houseware and jewelry business. Three years later, he changed the name of Dunagan Wholesale Co. to Fred P. Gattas Co. Inc. and entered the catalog merchandising field. Eventually, he added sporting goods, cameras, radios, leather, luggage and toys to the line. He moved to another location on South Main and then began expanding his showrooms. For his efforts, Mr. Gattas in 1977 was named the outstanding community salesman of the year by Sales and Marketing Executives of Memphis Inc. Mr. Gattas had a big role as supporter of St. Jude. He served several years as chairman of the St. Jude 'Shower of Stars' in the 1970s and was a member of the board of the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic golf tournament. The tournament, now called the Federal Express St. Jude Classic, began Thursday at the Tournament Players Club at Southwind. In 1966, Mr. Gattas received the Salutes Award from ALSAC and in 1973 was named ALSAC man of the year. Mr. Gattas received the communicator of the year award in 1977 from the Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The award recognizes someone outside the public relations field for outstanding communications that contribute to community betterment. Mr. Gattas once served as Grand Knight of Columbus Council No. 616 and on the board of directors of the Liberty Bowl. He also had been a member of the Greater Memphis State University Highland 100 Club, the Executives Club of Memphis, Future Memphis Inc., Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Memphis Association. He was active in the Variety Clubs, having served as a board member, Chief Barker of Variety in 1965, and president of Variety Children's Heart Institute in 1966. He was a former vice chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Port Authority and the Memphis and Shelby County Hospital Authority. Mr. Gattas held memberships at Colonial Country Club, Navy League of Memphis, Summit Club, Tennessee Club, Merchandisers Association Inc., and the Better Business Bureau. He leaves his wife, Eugenia Wood Gattas; four daughters, Teresa Ernest, Adrian Alsobrook and Rosemarie Gattas, all of Memphis, and Catherine Hamway of Dayton, Ohio; five sons, Fred Gattas Jr., James Wood Gattas, Thomas Clayton Gattas and Andrew Daniel Gattas, all of Memphis, and Phillip Martin Gattas of Elaine, Ark.; two sisters, Nazha Chamoun of Lena, Lebanon, and Naz Gattas of Clarksdale; a brother, George Gattas of Memphis, and 17 grandchildren. The family asks that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Endowment Fund. (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on June 13, 1992, author not listed)
Fred P. Gattas, founder of the Memphis-based showroom and catalog merchandising company that bears his name, died at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 77. Mr. Gattas, chairman of the board of Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc., died after a long illness. Mass will be said at noon today at St. Louis Catholic Church, where he was a communicant, with burial in Memorial Park. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Mr. Gattas began his business career in 1933 after graduating from Clarksdale (Miss.) High School. He sold candy, tobacco and specialties to merchants in the Mississippi Delta and peddled Italian bedspreads door-to- door. Today, Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc. is a multimillion-dollar operation with three stores in Memphis and one each in Jonesboro, Ark., Tupelo and Greenville, Miss. Mr. Gattas was a close friend of the late entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was vice chairman emeritus of the executive committee of the board of governors of St. Jude and a former member of the executive committee of American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fund-raising arm of the hospital. In 1982, Mr. Gattas received the brotherhood award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and was credited 'with extraordinary effort in selling the city of Memphis to the state, nation and world.' Mr. Gattas moved to Memphis from Clarksdale in 1945 and purchased W. B. Dunagan Wholesale Co., a specialty wholesale business. Later, he erected a building at 574 S. Main and began manufacturing candy, in addition to selling tobacco, candy and specialty wholesale items. In 1955, Mr. Gattas converted to the giftware, houseware and jewelry business. Three years later, he changed the name of Dunagan Wholesale Co. to Fred P. Gattas Co. Inc. and entered the catalog merchandising field. Eventually, he added sporting goods, cameras, radios, leather, luggage and toys to the line. He moved to another location on South Main and then began expanding his showrooms. For his efforts, Mr. Gattas in 1977 was named the outstanding community salesman of the year by Sales and Marketing Executives of Memphis Inc. Mr. Gattas had a big role as supporter of St. Jude. He served several years as chairman of the St. Jude 'Shower of Stars' in the 1970s and was a member of the board of the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic golf tournament. The tournament, now called the Federal Express St. Jude Classic, began Thursday at the Tournament Players Club at Southwind. In 1966, Mr. Gattas received the Salutes Award from ALSAC and in 1973 was named ALSAC man of the year. Mr. Gattas received the communicator of the year award in 1977 from the Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The award recognizes someone outside the public relations field for outstanding communications that contribute to community betterment. Mr. Gattas once served as Grand Knight of Columbus Council No. 616 and on the board of directors of the Liberty Bowl. He also had been a member of the Greater Memphis State University Highland 100 Club, the Executives Club of Memphis, Future Memphis Inc., Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Memphis Association. He was active in the Variety Clubs, having served as a board member, Chief Barker of Variety in 1965, and president of Variety Children's Heart Institute in 1966. He was a former vice chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Port Authority and the Memphis and Shelby County Hospital Authority. Mr. Gattas held memberships at Colonial Country Club, Navy League of Memphis, Summit Club, Tennessee Club, Merchandisers Association Inc., and the Better Business Bureau. He leaves his wife, Eugenia Wood Gattas; four daughters, Teresa Ernest, Adrian Alsobrook and Rosemarie Gattas, all of Memphis, and Catherine Hamway of Dayton, Ohio; five sons, Fred Gattas Jr., James Wood Gattas, Thomas Clayton Gattas and Andrew Daniel Gattas, all of Memphis, and Phillip Martin Gattas of Elaine, Ark.; two sisters, Nazha Chamoun of Lena, Lebanon, and Naz Gattas of Clarksdale; a brother, George Gattas of Memphis, and 17 grandchildren. The family asks that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Endowment Fund. (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on June 13, 1992, author not listed)
FRED P. GATTAS, 77, of Memphis, chairman of the board of Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co., died Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Mass will be said at noon today at St. Louis Catholic Church, where he was a communicant, with burial in Memorial Park. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. The family requests that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Endowment Fund. (Published in The Commercial Appeal on June 13, 1992)
Fred P. Gattas, founder of the Memphis-based showroom and catalog merchandising company that bears his name, died at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 77. Mr. Gattas, chairman of the board of Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc., died after a long illness. Mass will be said at noon today at St. Louis Catholic Church, where he was a communicant, with burial in Memorial Park. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Mr. Gattas began his business career in 1933 after graduating from Clarksdale (Miss.) High School. He sold candy, tobacco and specialties to merchants in the Mississippi Delta and peddled Italian bedspreads door-to- door. Today, Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc. is a multimillion-dollar operation with three stores in Memphis and one each in Jonesboro, Ark., Tupelo and Greenville, Miss. Mr. Gattas was a close friend of the late entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was vice chairman emeritus of the executive committee of the board of governors of St. Jude and a former member of the executive committee of American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fund-raising arm of the hospital. In 1982, Mr. Gattas received the brotherhood award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and was credited 'with extraordinary effort in selling the city of Memphis to the state, nation and world.' Mr. Gattas moved to Memphis from Clarksdale in 1945 and purchased W. B. Dunagan Wholesale Co., a specialty wholesale business. Later, he erected a building at 574 S. Main and began manufacturing candy, in addition to selling tobacco, candy and specialty wholesale items. In 1955, Mr. Gattas converted to the giftware, houseware and jewelry business. Three years later, he changed the name of Dunagan Wholesale Co. to Fred P. Gattas Co. Inc. and entered the catalog merchandising field. Eventually, he added sporting goods, cameras, radios, leather, luggage and toys to the line. He moved to another location on South Main and then began expanding his showrooms. For his efforts, Mr. Gattas in 1977 was named the outstanding community salesman of the year by Sales and Marketing Executives of Memphis Inc. Mr. Gattas had a big role as supporter of St. Jude. He served several years as chairman of the St. Jude 'Shower of Stars' in the 1970s and was a member of the board of the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic golf tournament. The tournament, now called the Federal Express St. Jude Classic, began Thursday at the Tournament Players Club at Southwind. In 1966, Mr. Gattas received the Salutes Award from ALSAC and in 1973 was named ALSAC man of the year. Mr. Gattas received the communicator of the year award in 1977 from the Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The award recognizes someone outside the public relations field for outstanding communications that contribute to community betterment. Mr. Gattas once served as Grand Knight of Columbus Council No. 616 and on the board of directors of the Liberty Bowl. He also had been a member of the Greater Memphis State University Highland 100 Club, the Executives Club of Memphis, Future Memphis Inc., Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Memphis Association. He was active in the Variety Clubs, having served as a board member, Chief Barker of Variety in 1965, and president of Variety Children's Heart Institute in 1966. He was a former vice chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Port Authority and the Memphis and Shelby County Hospital Authority. Mr. Gattas held memberships at Colonial Country Club, Navy League of Memphis, Summit Club, Tennessee Club, Merchandisers Association Inc., and the Better Business Bureau. He leaves his wife, Eugenia Wood Gattas; four daughters, Teresa Ernest, Adrian Alsobrook and Rosemarie Gattas, all of Memphis, and Catherine Hamway of Dayton, Ohio; five sons, Fred Gattas Jr., James Wood Gattas, Thomas Clayton Gattas and Andrew Daniel Gattas, all of Memphis, and Phillip Martin Gattas of Elaine, Ark.; two sisters, Nazha Chamoun of Lena, Lebanon, and Naz Gattas of Clarksdale; a brother, George Gattas of Memphis, and 17 grandchildren. The family asks that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Endowment Fund. (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on June 13, 1992, author not listed)
Fred P. Gattas, founder of the Memphis-based showroom and catalog merchandising company that bears his name, died at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was 77. Mr. Gattas, chairman of the board of Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc., died after a long illness. Mass will be said at noon today at St. Louis Catholic Church, where he was a communicant, with burial in Memorial Park. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Mr. Gattas began his business career in 1933 after graduating from Clarksdale (Miss.) High School. He sold candy, tobacco and specialties to merchants in the Mississippi Delta and peddled Italian bedspreads door-to- door. Today, Fred P. Gattas Distributors Co. Inc. is a multimillion-dollar operation with three stores in Memphis and one each in Jonesboro, Ark., Tupelo and Greenville, Miss. Mr. Gattas was a close friend of the late entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was vice chairman emeritus of the executive committee of the board of governors of St. Jude and a former member of the executive committee of American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fund-raising arm of the hospital. In 1982, Mr. Gattas received the brotherhood award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and was credited 'with extraordinary effort in selling the city of Memphis to the state, nation and world.' Mr. Gattas moved to Memphis from Clarksdale in 1945 and purchased W. B. Dunagan Wholesale Co., a specialty wholesale business. Later, he erected a building at 574 S. Main and began manufacturing candy, in addition to selling tobacco, candy and specialty wholesale items. In 1955, Mr. Gattas converted to the giftware, houseware and jewelry business. Three years later, he changed the name of Dunagan Wholesale Co. to Fred P. Gattas Co. Inc. and entered the catalog merchandising field. Eventually, he added sporting goods, cameras, radios, leather, luggage and toys to the line. He moved to another location on South Main and then began expanding his showrooms. For his efforts, Mr. Gattas in 1977 was named the outstanding community salesman of the year by Sales and Marketing Executives of Memphis Inc. Mr. Gattas had a big role as supporter of St. Jude. He served several years as chairman of the St. Jude 'Shower of Stars' in the 1970s and was a member of the board of the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic golf tournament. The tournament, now called the Federal Express St. Jude Classic, began Thursday at the Tournament Players Club at Southwind. In 1966, Mr. Gattas received the Salutes Award from ALSAC and in 1973 was named ALSAC man of the year. Mr. Gattas received the communicator of the year award in 1977 from the Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The award recognizes someone outside the public relations field for outstanding communications that contribute to community betterment. Mr. Gattas once served as Grand Knight of Columbus Council No. 616 and on the board of directors of the Liberty Bowl. He also had been a member of the Greater Memphis State University Highland 100 Club, the Executives Club of Memphis, Future Memphis Inc., Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Memphis Association. He was active in the Variety Clubs, having served as a board member, Chief Barker of Variety in 1965, and president of Variety Children's Heart Institute in 1966. He was a former vice chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Port Authority and the Memphis and Shelby County Hospital Authority. Mr. Gattas held memberships at Colonial Country Club, Navy League of Memphis, Summit Club, Tennessee Club, Merchandisers Association Inc., and the Better Business Bureau. He leaves his wife, Eugenia Wood Gattas; four daughters, Teresa Ernest, Adrian Alsobrook and Rosemarie Gattas, all of Memphis, and Catherine Hamway of Dayton, Ohio; five sons, Fred Gattas Jr., James Wood Gattas, Thomas Clayton Gattas and Andrew Daniel Gattas, all of Memphis, and Phillip Martin Gattas of Elaine, Ark.; two sisters, Nazha Chamoun of Lena, Lebanon, and Naz Gattas of Clarksdale; a brother, George Gattas of Memphis, and 17 grandchildren. The family asks that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Endowment Fund. (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on June 13, 1992, author not listed)
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