Building a new home for ancient heritage

This story is a perfect illustration of how this country was built by immigrants who became Americans. DP

Cultural tradition thrived even as immigrants assimilated

By ANDREW MARTON, Star-Telegram staff writer

star-telegram.com: A diverse mix of immigrant groups settled in this area around a century ago. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, the Star-Telegram takes a look at several families representing this rich cultural heritage. Today: The Phiripes and Pappajohn families.

Georgia Alice Cole was as bred-in-the-bone Fort Worth as chicken-fried steak slathered in cream gravy. Steve Pappajohn was more honey-soaked baklava, having been born in Turkey to Greek parents. Around 1915, Pappajohn arrived, along with his mother, in the dusty flats of Fort Worth.

The 1945 wedding of Georgia and Steve was not only eloquent testimony to their love. It also set in bold relief the depths of both assimilation and cultural independence achieved by Fort Worth's earliest Greek immigrants.

After all, Steve Pappajohn may have married a traditional Fort Worth gal, but the ceremony was conducted mostly in Greek, at the local Greek Orthodox church. Soon enough, Georgia Pappajohn would adopt her husband's faith.

At 84 years old, Georgia still remembers every stitch of her simple white wedding dress and the traditional Greek crown she wore.
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