Jimmy Aboud dies at 87By \\\\\ Leah Sorias
Story Created: Sep 15, 2014 at 9:40 PM ECT
Express
Textile giant Jimmy C. Aboud has died at the age of 87.
Aboud, who founded Jimmy Aboud the Textile King 65 years ago, passed away early yesterday morning at the University of Miami Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit.
According to statement from his family, he had been admitted to the hospital for an emergency valve replacement procedure which was only available at a few centres in the United States.
“He survived the surgery but became complicated with varying issues related to his advanced age. He finally succumbed peacefully with his family around him this (yesterday) morning,” the statement said.
In September 1949, Aboud established his business in a single doorway rental shop on Charlotte Street with an overdraft of $50 from Barclays Bank, now known as Republic Bank Ltd.
He became one of the first clients of the Bank of Nova Scotia (now Scotiabank) who increased his overdraft to $500 after they visited his shop and liked his ambition and enthusiasm.
Before this moment Jimmy helped his father, a peddler and haberdashery merchant, in the 1930s and 1940s while he put himself through school.
“He took example from the successful merchants of the day and would always try to see what he could learn from them, eventually deciding that the path to success meant emulating successful people, working harder than your competitors, making sure that every transaction benefitted both the buyer and the seller, always taking personal responsibility for his failures and attributing the success of others to their performance being superior to his,” the statement from his family added.
Aboud’s business operations have always remained in Port of Spain.
“He loved the city and his country,” Gregory Aboud, president of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association, said of his father yesterday.
The company now provides fabrics to the entire Caribbean and the Americas.
Aboud leaves to mourn his wife Lily, his four sons Gregory, Gary (Fishermen and Friends of the Sea head), Stephen (Pharmaco Industries Ltd managing director), Justice James Aboud and Linda Stephen.
Gregory Aboud said the funeral arrangements for his father will be announced once finalised.