Dr. Samuel S. Sengelmann Jr.

Sam was born on February 28, 1926, in Houston to proud parents Samuel S. and Hilda Ruth (Sladczyk) Sengelmann in the original Methodist Hospital near downtown Houston, TX. Sam grew up on the East side, or the Second Ward, and attended Eastwood Elementary, Stonewall Jackson Jr. High and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1943.

Sam attended The University of Texas at Austin and received a degree in Biology in 1947 and Pharmacy in 1949 and graduated from Dental School in 1954. While in Austin, he met Alice Ann Ward and they married on September 3, 1948, and had three children, Stephen, Betsy and Bill. While at UT, he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity where he made many lifelong friendships. He admitted he wasn't much of an athlete, but wanted to participate in athletics, so he became a manager for the UT Track team which earned him a letter jacket!

Sam's grandfather, Gustav (Gus) Sengelmann, and his brothers immigrated from a small town near Hamburg, Germany and landed in Indianola, TX in the 1870's and settled in Schulenburg, TX. He and his brother Charles became prominent members of the community and, in 1894, built a two-story building on Main Street that housed a popular dance hall and saloon and gathering place for community members. The building is alive and well today with the Sengelmann Brothers name adorning the top of the building and still exists as Sengelmann Hall. The building is a wonderful place to experience history, as not much has changed inside the building, and a great place to grab lunch at Momma's café within the building. Sam spent many years traveling between Houston, Schulenburg, and LaGrange, growing up and playing with numerous cousins between these communities. He and his young Houston friends were members of the Knothole gang and would attend many Houston Buff's baseball games for $0.25. Of course, he had a paper route to cover this extraordinary expense.

After graduating with a degree in Pharmacy, on September 1, 1949, he moved back to Houston and got his first job working for Mr. Bratten's pharmacy in downtown Houston. After working for a few weeks from 8 am till 6 pm, 6 days a week he worked up the courage to ask for a Saturday off to attend a Longhorn football game in Austin. After a stern NO, and a long lecture about him being a grown-up and that his focus should be on work and not College football, it was at that moment that he decided he needed a new career!

Maybe a dentist? Shortly after Mr. Bratten’s lecture, he secured an interview with Mr. Arnim at the Texas Dental College which became affiliated with The University of Texas. Mr. Arnim’s family was from the Schulenberg area and it so happened that Sam’s grandfather’s brother, Charles, married Elizabeth Arnim in 1879 – small world! As described by Sam, this was just an interview for potential acceptance into the school. No entrance exams were required, and he was told to bring a pocketknife to the interview. After the interview, Sam was given a replica tooth with three roots and a block of wax and was told to sculpt the wax into the tooth with his pocketknife. I suppose he had a talent for sculpting as he was accepted and started Dental school in 1950 and graduated in 1954, all the while working for good old Mr. Bratten on nights and weekends to pay for school and his growing family.

After completing dental school, he joined the Air Force and was transferred to the Reno/Sparks Nevada base. To say the Reno area was not his or our mother's favorite place is an understatement. Fortunately, his transfer request to Ellington Air Force base was approved due to his first son Stephen contracting polio. While at the Ellington base, he was extremely fortunate to meet Dr. Galye, an older established dentist who became his friend and mentor. He worked for Dr. Gayle prior to opening his own practice on Westheimer, just inside the then proposed Loop 610. At the young age of 80, Sam finally put down his dental drills and so forth and hung up his white doctor coat for the final time, ending an incredible 52 career in dentistry.

Sam loved his family deeply and he had a very good relationship with Christ as a longtime member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. He always commanded the room during family celebrations with the grandkids and repeatedly gave them advice such as "Don’t Spend the Principal" and especially to the boys, always be "An Officer and a Gentleman" which is exactly the way he lived his life. He always had a kind and gentle demeanor and always had a nice word for all who knew him. Sam was the epitome of a “Gentleman.” Friends and patients had many affectionate nicknames for Doc such as "The Tooth Fairy" and my favorite, "Singing Sam". Sam was always happy, whistling, singing, telling jokes, or chatting about relevant topics, his gift of conversation had no boundaries.

During his lifetime he liked to travel, do a little bird hunting (more talking and drinking beer than hunting) and played a decent round of golf. He loved to fish on the Texas Gulf Coast and really enjoyed gardening, especially growing his annual tomato crop. He especially enjoyed following and trading stocks and was still making stock trades over recent months. He was a longtime member of the Houston Rotary Club and Houston Country Club.

The family would like to express its sincere thanks to Sam's caregivers over the past year, Arnold Escamilla and Frandy Richard, two wonderful people that attentively took care of him and as a bonus they also got to learn life lessons such as "Don't Spend the Principal"!

Sam was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Alice Ann Ward Sengelmann, his son Stephen Samuel Sengelmann and his wife Robin Overton Sengelmann; his son-in-law Jamie Elick; his brother Jack Sengelmann and his parents Samuel S. and Hilda Ruth Sengelmann. He is survived by his daughter Betsy Sengelmann Elick and her sons Jim Elick and Sam Elick and his wife Amanda Horvath Elick and great grandson Maverick Elick; Son Bill Sengelmann and wife Pam Wilmore Sengelmann and grandchildren Gretchen and Sam Sengelmann; Granddaughter, Sarah Jane Sengelmann Canion and husband Ross Canion and great grandchildren Carter and Kennedy Canion; Grandson, Robert Sengelmann and his wife Mariann Wilson Sengelmann, and great grandchildren Bert, Ben and Laine Sengelmann; and Nephews Gary, Greg and Mark Sengelmann.

A memorial service will be held for Sam at St. Luke's United Methodist Church at 3471 Westheimer on October 18th at 1:00 pm. Reception to follow in the Baker-Hines room.

If desired, charitable donations can be made in honor of Sam to The Alzheimer’s Association, The Brookwood Community, or your charity of choice.