Page 321 - BWA FEB 2013

February 2013 | Business World Magazine | 321
In writing a history of Galveston, Texas, Author Gary Cartwright aptly described the port commu-
nity as once being “the largest, bawdiest and most important city between New Orleans and San
Francisco.”The accounting of the varied personalities who historically populated Galveston includes
references to Pirate Jean Lafitte, General Sam Houston, General James Long and his wife, Jane,
(regarded as the “Mother of Texas”) along with exploits of earliest settlers, the Karankawa Indian
tribe. Yet, if one were to write a modern history of Galveston, it simply couldn’t be complete with-
out chapters sufficiently devoted to the service provided by another tribe, in fact, a family, whose
commitment to preserving the community’s fascinating history has fundamentally helped preserve
the viability of a prosperous, economic future.
George Mitchell was born the son of Greek
immigrants who came to America and set-
tled in Texas. His parents must have had
lofty expectations for their son. They be-
stowed young George with the middle name
of “Phydias” - a tribute to that most legend-
ary of great sculptors so credited for creating
two distinct “Wonders of the World”. And
indeed, George Mitchell grew and sculpted
out a career path that not only resulted in
incredible revenues, but more enviable earn-
ings in terms of respect and acclaim for in-