Robert "Bob" Machos Sr.

1925 - 2002

Robert "Bob" Machos Sr., 77, founder of River Oaks Printing Co., died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002, in Fort Worth.

Funeral: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, the Rev. Tom Wigginton, celebrant. Burial: Greenwood Memorial Park. Vigil: 7 p.m. Monday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home.

Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials may be given to a charity of choice.

Robert "Bob" Machos Sr. was born on Fort Worth's North Side June 24, 1925, to Pearl and James Machos. Bob came from modest beginnings. He learned from his parents good moral values, and that if a person works hard, positive things can happen to him.

Bob began working at the age of 6. He had a garden and a garden route. He would go up and down Lincoln Street, which was one of the more affluent streets, and sell his vegetables and peaches. Bob also made money by picking up junk and selling it.

At the age of 14, he worked for the old Fort Worth Press. He was responsible for five paper routes. Bob worked so hard in one year getting new subscribers that he won a trip to Galveston.

Bob's civic mentors were Hazel Vaughn Leigh, founder of the Fort Worth Boys' Club; Corky Makarwich, FWBC activities director; Dr. Abe Greines, president of the FWBC and a Kiwanis member; and the Kiwanis Club of North Fort Worth.

All made a difference in his life.

Bob attended school at Mount Carmel Academy, J.P. Elder and graduated from Fort Worth Technical and Vocational High School, where he learned the printing business. On Dec. 7, 1941, during his senior year, his class was called into the gymnasium, where it heard President Roosevelt deliver the declaration of war. Immediately after graduation in 1942, Bob went into the U.S. Army/Air Force.

Bob followed in the unselfish footsteps of his mentors by giving generously of his money, talent and time to his community and its youth. He was a mentor to those wanting to learn the printing business. He was past president of St. Pauls Men's Club, Serra Club (its mission is to foster vocation to the priesthood), Northwest Chamber of Commerce and the Castleberry Athletic Booster Club. He served on the board of directors of St. Teresa Home and the River Oaks YMCA Boys Club.

He was most recently a member of Knights of Columbus and the River Oaks Area Historical Society. He served on the 1999-2000 budget committee for Castleberry ISD. He was a member and past president of the River Oaks/Sansom Park Chamber of Commerce.

What a wonderful world it would be if everyone contributed as much to society as Bob Machos did.

Survivors: Wife of 50 years, Alice; sons, Robert J. Machos Jr. M.D. and his wife, Debra; Mark Machos, Barry Machos and Alan Machos; grandchildren, Melanie Machos, Kyle Machos, Ashley Machos, Erin Machos and Ryan, Dusti, and Bo; sisters, Augustine Lail and Frances Chester; and nieces and nephews.