Torres

Arturo G. Torres, featured as an outstanding young Texan as early as 1976 in Garland A. Smith's 1976 Edition of Outstanding Young Texans passed away on January 6, 2007, at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Miami Beach, Florida at the age of 70. Mr. Smith's preface explained "Flair-an indescribable attribute, it is immediately discernable. When you see the man who has it, hear him talk, you know that there is something unusual about him, something special. It is vitality, an exuberance, a zest, a panache." Those who knew Mr. Torres personally or followed his life through the many articles and newspaper accounts, knew him to be a man with flair. Arturo G. Torres fled his native Cuba after the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. He and his family had been involved in the wholesale and retail grocery business, real estate and agriculture in his native Cuba. All of his holdings were confiscated by the Castro regime and he was forced to seek asylum in the United States. True to his entrepreneurial spirit and upbringing, Mr. Torres founded and grew one of the largest privately owned Pizza Hut franchises in the United States at the time that he sold the company to Pepsico, Inc in 1993. He was founder, President, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Pizza Management, Inc (PMI). PMI owned and operated over 230 Pizza Hut restaurants in Texas, Florida, California, Oregon, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Spain. His many business interests included, PMI, Play By Play Toys and Novelties, Inc., Val Verde Vending, Inc, Veladi Ranch and Veladi Ranch Steakhouse, Inc. An amazing man and true example of the great American free enterprise system, Mr. Torres accomplished this by working initially as a busboy in Miami and then in Amarillo by working at a print shop for Amarillo Hardware. He began in the Pizza Hut business in Amarillo in 1965, where he worked in the kitchen and later became a store manager for a franchise owned by Norman Blankenship. Norman became a good friend and later sold his company to Mr. Torres. Mr. Torres is identified with many civic movements. Among them he served for many years as a director with the National Conference of La Raza and The Cuban American Freedom Foundation. He received the Entrepreneur of the Year award in San Antonio in the late 80's and has been recognized by many groups for his tremendous accomplishments and generosity. His affiliation with the Republican Party afforded him the opportunity to engage in a passion he enjoyed since his early years, the opportunity to participate in the American political process. His generosity and commitment to the Republican Party earned him a position in the Republican Inner Circle. Mr. Torres' philanthropic interests included his greatest passion, education. He contributed financial support to numerous educational institutions including The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) here in San Antonio, Texas. He served on the board of directors for HACU and UIW and firmly believed that the freedom and future of America depends on providing the correct environment for young people. His generosity was swift and unconditional. He was prone to paying for medical care for children who he found in need without regard to personal cost or need for recognition. He generously supported Doctors Without Borders. Arturo Torres is survived by his beloved wife, Laura Elena Gonzalez Torres. One of his greatest sources of joy are his 8 daughters, Miriam Beatriz Torres Forbord, Vivian Torres, Rebecca Torres, Elizabeth Torres, Christina Torres, Laura Torres, Diane Torres and Veronica Torres and his seven grandchildren, Katie Klimek, Alicia and Gabriela Torres Geary, Alexa and Arturo Antonio Torres Skillicorn, Arturo Ignacio and Francesca Yanez. He was blessed with the gift of the ability to free his beloved mother, Valentina Torres, from Communist Cuba in 1977 and his cousin, Manolo Sanchez, in 1992. They are both still living in Miami, Florida. He has since been responsible for freeing several members of his extended family from Castro's dictatorship. Mr. Torres will receive friends from 3:00 pm, Wednesday, January 10, 2007, at El Caballero Rivero Funeral Home at 3344 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida, (305) 445-9508, until Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 1:00 pm. Funeral Services will begin at 2:00 pm on January 11, 2007, at the Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel, Miami, Florida. Entombment will follow immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Torres' name to the University of the Incarnate Word or the American Diabetes Foundation. You are invited to join the family in the celebration of his passing to be with his Father, our Lord. In honor of his many friends and associates in Texas, the family is planning a memorial service in San Antonio. Details will be provided when available.