Nathan Donsky

The following was published in 1980

DONSKY, NATHAN

In West Texas, the name of Nathan Donsky is synonymous with philanthropy.

Nathan, one of ten children, was born to Jacob and Gussie Donsky in Dallas, Texas, on June 6, 1906. Because of the large family and modest circumstances, Nathan began selling newspapers on the streets of Dallas at the age of six. As he grew older, he spent many hours working concessions at sporting events.

After graduating from Forrest High School in 1925, he took a secretarial course at Bradford Business College. His first job as a private secretary was with Colonel Alvin M. Owsley, retired commander of the American Legion, who advised him to go into the mercantile business. In his second job, he was secretary to a cotton broker. At this time, he joined a club, bought new clothes, played poker, and was soon in debt to a finance company. As a result of this indebtedness, he decided to go to West Texas to find work.

He had managed to borrow over a thousand dollars from family, friends, and even the Rabbi, when he met a man who had lived in San Angelo, by the name of Abie Ray. They formed a partnership and went to San Angelo where they established Ray-Don Concessions at the baseball park. In 1928, Nathan bought out his partner. The following year the baseball league disbanded and Nathan went broke.

He spent several years working long hours and sleeping in the back of dry goods stores in the oil-boom towns of Forsan, Texas, and Hobbs, New Mexico. He earned $40 per week.

In 1930, he decided to return to Dallas and do secretarial work. Because his concessions cushions were stored in San Angelo, he decided to stop by and check on them. He went to the home of his cousin Freda, Mrs. Abe Ray, who told him about a man named Max Goren who owned a pawn shop. Then she told Mr. Goren that if he took Nathan in as a partner he would have it made. In the meantime, she persuaded her father to lend Nathan $500. The deal was made; the business became Goren and Donsky.

Fate again took a turn in his favor when a business man by the name of Leon Fine taught masonry to Nathan. Leon was impressed by this tall, blue-eyed, young man and decided to become his advisor and benefactor. He bought a building in downtown San Angelo, remodeled it, and went to a bank and established credit for Nathan.

After seven years, Nathan dissolved his partnership with Max Goren and established Nathan’s Jewelers. It was a success from the day it opened, and today does the largest volume of business in West Texas. Nathan’s personality was a contributing factor to the store’s success and so was his unique method of doing business. A person could usually get credit in three minutes, pay no interest or carrying charges and receive free gift wrapping and free delivery.

Nathan had been in business for one year when he was invited to a reception dance in Abilene on January 1, 1939. Here he met a petite blue-eyed blonde from Fort Worth by the name of Sylvia Frankrich. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married twenty-nine days later.

The Donskys are parents of two children. A son, Calman Donsky, is an attorney in Dallas, specializing in international law. He is married to the former Linda Bormaster of Houston. They have three children: Robin Lynn, Jeffrey Scott, and Joy Elissa.

A daughter, Linda Lou, lives in Philadelphia with her surgeon husband, Dr. Allan Gold. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Micole. Linda holds a Master’s Degree in Interior Design.

In 1940, when a watchmaker had to resign due to illness, Nathan promised him a job upon his return. When he recovered, no job was available; so Nathan told him to visit neighborhood towns, find one he liked, and promised to open another store. The man chose Brownwood. Two weeks later, Camp Bowie was opened with 40,000 soldiers.

After the war, Nathan operated six stores, but only the Brownwood and San Angelo stores were kept on a permanent basis.

As Nathan prospered, his support to civic and charitable causes throughout West Texas became almost endless. In 1987, he sent out 1,502 gifts; gold rings to all newborn babies in San Angelo, gifts brides registered at the store, and at Christmas time, gifts to firemen, policemen, etc.

In 1940, he began a charitable undertaking continued to this day, which is the purchasing of livestock at 4-H and FFA stock shows. He has been a longtime Director of Boys Ranch. In 1968, he was Chairman of St. John’s Hospital building fund. He donated stoves and cold storage lockers to Meals for the Elderly, as well as lockers to Concho Valley Home for Girls. In addition, he gave physical therapy equipment to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, gave kidney machine equipment to the Children’s Center in Dallas, and donated a room in the new Scottish Rite Crippled Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

In 1980, he celebrated his 50th year in business, special contributions were made t local area agencies and organizations. They included a new pickup truck for the Boy’s Ranch, a specially equipped bus for West Texas Rehabilitation Center, electronic scoreboards to some 20 area schools, and five sets of bleacher stands for Little League Baseball.

In 1980, the Donskys made a gift of $50,000 to the Athletic Scholarship Endowment fund at Angelo State University in memory of their parents. This brought their total endowment fund at ASU to $140,000.

For 22 years, Nathan’s Jewelers has honored Angelo State University with an annual All Sports Banquet. Athletes and coaches are presented with specialty inscribed gold watches.

Nathan has been honored by the citizens of San Angelo many times. In 1978, he was chosen San Angelo Citizen of the Year; the Tom Green Junior Livestock Show was dedicated to him in 1983; in 1986, the baseball field of San Angelo proclaimed June 6, 1986, as “Nathan Donsky Day;” also, he was honored by Angelo State University with a special birthday dinner, and as a tribute, a color portrait of him was placed in the office of the president.

When asked about his phenomenal success, Nathan is quick to give credit to others such as: help from his cousin Freda and from Leon Fine; credit to his parents for instilling in him such values as honesty and respect and compassion for his fellow man; credit to his brothers, sisters and in-laws for coming to his aid when he was ill or needed help with the stores; credit to customers who patronized him over the years; much credit is given to loyal employees, some of whom have been with him for more than 40 years; above all, he credits his wife for having helped in decision-making and for her support in all his endeavors.

Nathan is a member of Concho 1260 Masonic Lodge and a charter member of the Suez Temple of San Angelo. He is a director of the Dallas Variety Club and a fund chairman for the Kidney Foundation of Texas.

One of the chief interests in his adult life has been the welfare of the youth.

Nathan’s favorite expression is, “Cast your bread upon the water and it shall return tenfold.”

At 82, if asked when he plans to retire, his reply is, “The day I die.”

In the THIRTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES: 1910 POLULATION; Supervisor's District No. 5th; Eumumeration District No. 28; Ward of the City 2nd part of1; as of April 22, 1910: Listed as son of Jacob Dnsky; white male, age 4; Born in Texas; both parents from Russia-Yiddish

Usually people alternated naming their children after their parents so Louis Donsky (the first child) was named after Hikel Laeb, Freda Curtis (the 2nd child) was named after Gittel's mother Freda, Sara Harvit was named after Jake's mother Sarai, and Nathan Donsky (4th child) was named after Gittel's father Nahum.

Nathan & Abe sold seat cushions and other concessions popcorn etc at SMU stadium, and all around Texas at baseball games & rodoes. He went to a business college [trade school] and became the private secretary to Col. Owlesly of the American Legion in Dallas. He was involved with the FFH or HHH Club, but decided he needed to leave Dallas, maybe because he was gambling too much, and had no money to loose. He started going around Texas to small towns and managing Jewish owned stores. He went to San Angelo, where there was a cousin, possibly Freda Ray, and started working for Max Goren at his pawnshop. They became partners, and lived in a hotel nearby. After a few years they split up. Max really wanted him to marry his daughter Galdis Goren. His son Mitchell Goren & daughter Fanny. - Per Cal Donsky

Nathan borrowed money from Leon Fine, and M.M. Donosky as well to start Nathan's. After a few years he got very sick with ulsers and had to go NYC to have an operation to have 2/3 of his stomach removed and he could not work for a year or two, and in November 1939 Honey moved his family to San Angelo to run the store for him.

There were Nathan's in: San Angelo Brownwood - Ervin Donsky, Ida Donsky Served as Assistant Manager Big Spring Odessa, Tx openned 7-20-1946 Denison Paris - Bob Slaton

The stores were all seperate partnerships and managed by brothers & brothers in laws. Trafari was extremely popular during the war, and in short supply. Nathan got it by paying early, or in the day recieved. The stores were sold in 1997 to the Silverman Group.

5/28/99 San Angelo Newspaper:

Jewelry store again will change hands By RASHDA KHAN Staff Writer

Nathan's Jewelers, a San Angelo landmark since 1938, is changing hands again. The Nathan's stores in San Angelo and Brownwood are among 20 stores nationwide that Henry J. Silverman Factory Jewelers sold recently to Austin-based Samuels Jewelers, a retail jewelry chain. Randy McCullough, president and chief executive officer of Samuels, said he is currently in the process of visiting the recently purchased stores. All of them, including the Nathan's stores, will eventually be operating under the Samuels Diamonds name and specialize in loose diamonds. The San Angelo Nathan's currently employs eight people. McCullough said no personnel changes are expected at the store at this time. In a prepared statement, Silverman announced that in addition to selling all of its store outlets, the company will close its 20,000-square-foot jewelry manufacturing factory in El Paso. Silverman is holding brief Going Out of Business sales at its stores - including the San Angelo store at 129 S. Chadbourne St. - to liquidate the existing inventory before Samuels takes over. It was only in late 1997, that Nathan's transferred out of the Donsky family to South Carolina-based Silverman. Cal Donsky, son of the late founder Nathan Donsky, decided to retire from the jewelry business and sold the stores. At the time, Donsky, an attorney in Dallas, cited the difficulties of being an absentee owner as a reason for selling. The late Nathan Donsky was proud of his West Texas roots and once described his business as one that understands West Texans' likes and dislikes. He was active in civic affairs and the Central High School's baseball field is named in his honor.

Founder & President:

Nathan's Jewelers, San Angelo, Brownwood, Paris, Tx

Senior Vice President - Sterling Jewelry & Dist. CO 1961 - 1992

Nathan was very charitable, and a bid supporter of the 4H in San Angelo.

1989 Nathan drafted the following:

History of E.N.A.

On April 10, 1961 E.N.A. was incorportated for $50,000.00 and Allan Magilow was allowed to put up $5,000.00 for 10% and Honey was allowed to buy any amount he wanted, so he bought 20% and Ervin and I (Nathan) bought the balance which was 35% which we did according to amount of stock we owned. We had to loan the corporation large amount of money. Many years later Allan decided he wanted to sell his 10% and at that time we still owed money so we, the corporation, bought his 10% for $250,000.00 payable $50,000.00 down and balance over 4 years with interest. Many years later Mr. Smith, an attorney with Cal's firm worked out a deal where we could use E.N.A. money to buy the corporation and convert this to a partnership using what we had in the corporation. We originally had 50,000 shares and since corporation bought Allan's 5,000 shares, the company then had 4500 shares and after conversion it was divided into 4500 units. Honey 1,000; Ervin 1,750; Nathan 1750. Babe and I gave Cal and Linda each 7.5% of what we owned, which later was converted in 375 units each and each year we gave them units in E.N.A.

Hope this information is useful as this is from memory and at 83 it is not perfect.

I am enclosing a list, showing all the owners and the amount they own.

[Note, E.N.A.was the family land partnership which owned the building and land at 5801 N.W. Highway in Dallas where the main Sterling Jewelry & DIstributing Company was located in Dallas. The building was sold to Half Price Books in the late 1990's There were three other family land partnerships that owned Sterling Jewelry & Distributing Company & Houston Jewelry & Distributing Company land and buildings:

Donsky-Richardson - owned the Sterling Jewelry & Dist. Co Richardson location, sold about 1993 to J.C. Penny's Building designed by Arnie Hendler

Houston Wholesale Jewelers, Partnership 1966 - 1983 owned 802 Milam, Houston, Tx. Downtown location of Houston Jewelry & Distributing Co. Former Star Furniture location, remodel design by Arnold Hendler

3D 1973 - 2007, owned the Houston Jewelry & Distributing Co 9633 Westheimer, Houston, Tx and Tanglewilde parking lot. Building designed by Arnold Hendler. Location of Houston Jewelry 1973 - 1992. 1994 - 2007 Borders Books. Property sold 2007.

External Reference: http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/tx/sanangelo.html

http://ohr-hatorah.tripod.com/march19.htm

Nathan Donsky Sefer Torah Project Kickoff - March 19, 2000

On March 19th, Congregation Ohr HaTorah and the Donsky Family celebrated the beginning of the writing of the Nathan Donsky Sefer Torah. An overflow crowd of over 250 men, women and children gathered at the Dallas Jewish Community Center to witness Sofer Rabbi Pincus inscribe the first verse of the Torah, "Bereshis bara Elokim es hashamayim v'es Ha'artez", "In the Beginning of G-d's creating of the Heavens and the Earth".

As Rabbi Pincus began the final word, all the children were invited up the dais to participate in this unique mitzvah, representing the next generation that will read and learn from this Torah.

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http://www.isjl.org/texas-san-angelo-encyclopedia.html

The Donsky family was one of the most successful of the new Jewish merchants. Nathan Donsky arrived in 1927 shortly after graduating high school in Dallas to operate concessions for the San Angelo Sheepherders, the city’s short lived semi professional baseball team. He left San Angelo after the team folded, but returned in 1930 and accepted a partnership with jeweler Leon Fine. After Donsky opened Nathan’s Jewelers in 1939, his operation expanded into several Texas towns with the help of his brother Abe “Honey” Donsky, who, according to legend, was once held up by Bonnie and Clyde. Nathan was widely known for his philanthropy in San Angelo, and served as a head of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. He was elected the city’s citizen of the year in 1978.

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https://oralhistory.unt.edu/people/donsky-nathan-b-1906

DONSKY, Nathan (b. 1906). Profession: Founder and owner Employers: Nathan’s Jewelers Family background; description of fire at Gardner Park, Dallas; employment as secretary for Dallas lawyer Alvin M. Owsley; establishment of Ray Don concessions, San Angelo, 1928; employment in dry goods stores in Forsan, Texas and Hobbs, New Mexico, 1930; co-owner of pawn shop in San Angelo; opening of Nathan’s Jewelers, 1938; discussion of profit margin; opening of stores in Brownwood, Big Spring, Odessa, Paris, and Denison, 1940s; involvement with 4-H, FFA, and area sports teams; comments on scholarship funding and athletic scoreboard donations; discussion of operation of branch stores; brother’s founding of Sterling Jewelers, 1948; Nathan’s Jewelers promotional activities; expansion of San Angelo store; discussion of credit business; experiences during Depression; comments on personnel; market share in Texas; expansion of Sterling Jewelers; personnel practices; civic and trade association activities; factors in developing successful business. About this Oral History Physical Description 87 pp Terms of Use Open Interviewer(s) Floyd Jenkins Date of Interview September 11, 1982