Tribute to Berge Boghossian

 As many of you know, we lost a good friend on 12-29-2021, Berge Boghossian. I've spent the last two weeks going through his things and preparing them to ship to the family in California. One of the most interesting things was his collection of photos and the rich history they revealed. We hear the saying, "They've done it all." Well, in his case, he did. Born in Beirut, served in the hang on to your hats, the USSR army. He was stationed at Rostov-on-Don and watch US planes flying out of Turkey, patrolling the Soviet/Turkish border. Somehow he got out and went to NY, with only $80 in his pocket to learn the art of carpet/rug business from his uncle/brother. He worked hard, became a legal citizen, learned our language and flourished! When the rug market started going down he started Big Bears Arms on Fairmount Street then moved the location to Carrollton. Again he excelled at this trade making multiple trips to Russia. He was the largest importer of Russian made weapon in the Untied States. But alas, do to government interference, that to would end. Despite his problems, he never lost his love for his new found country. He was nothing but a true patriot and loved the United States. Now, how many people do you know that said they knew so-and-so and get that brief photo. Well, in his case he took photos with people he knew and admired: Ken Kercheval, Michal Kalishnikov and Uzi Gal, to name a few. He lived at the Crescent in downtown Dallas and was a fixture of "High Society." He was an actor, yep, had a SAG card, carpet, rug dealer, arms dealer but mostly, he was a very devoted family man to his nieces, nephews and those of his friends and employees with children. That to me was his greatest attribute,; he loved children and family. One day he told me, "You are a very rich man." he wasn't talking about my bank account, but rather my children and their children. While he will be missed, his memory will take decades to fade. Here is a brief look at the most interesting man I've ever known.