Philip Drago, Sr.

Long time Port Arthur resident and business leader, Philip Drago, Sr. passed away on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital surrounded by devoted family members.Mr. Drago was 98-years old. Philip Drago was preceded in death by his wife of 65-years Concetta Parigi Drago and grandson Gregory Dalton Drago. He was the second son of the five sons born to Joe and Maria Drago, Sr. Drago is survived by his four children, Joseph Paul Drago and wife Brenda Drago of Port Arthur, Mary Drago Williams and husband Dr. Glen N. Williams of College Station, son Sam Parigi Drago and wife Hanna Hampton Drago of Houston and son Philip Drago, Jr. and wife Debbie Bennett Drago of Port Neches. Also surviving are 15-grandchildren and 37-great grandchildren. Mr. Drago was also preceded in death by his four brothers, Joe Drago, Jr., Anthony Drago, Alphonse Drago and Charles Drago. Mr. Drago's life was an example of the "American Dream" as he was part of the Great European migration that created so much growth and development in the United States after the turn of the century. He was born on September 9, 1911 in Salaparuta, a small hillside village in central Sicily for which Mr. Drago always held a fond memory. He migrated to Port Arthur in 1920 at the age of nine with his mother and older brother, Joe Drago, Jr. At that time, America was seen by Europeans as "the land of milk and honey". Upon his arrival in Port Arthur, he was educated in the local public school system but had to quit after completing the ninth grade when his father decided "that was enough education and it was time for him to go to work". He was a tireless person who always felt the need to continue to learn and to read to improve his mind and himself. After leaving the school system, Mr. Drago began working in local businesses with the intent of one day opening his own business. That took place in 1931, when, with his older brother Joe, they received a small loan from their father and started Drago Hardware Company. Opening a new business during the Great Depression proved challenging but Philip and his brother proved up to the task through hard work, long hours, belief in the city and dedication to their purpose to create a business. Following the Great Depression, the brothers' business began to grow with the growth of Port Arthur. In the early 1960's the brothers decided to part and go their separate ways in the business world. Philip began converting the old retail hardware business location into a wholesale hardware company. That business eventually evolved into what is known today as Drago Supply Company, one of the leading businesses in the area. After Mr. Drago's retirement, Drago Supply would continue its growth under the leadership of his three sons and eventually became nationally known and recognized in its industry. Mr. Drago was also involved in church, civic and industry activities, having served as president of the Serra Club International, an organization devoted to promote vocations to ministry in the Catholic Church. Mr. Drago was a tireless promoter of the need for continued growth of the industrial base in Port Arthur as a way to further develop the city and to provide jobs to the local citizenry. To this end, he served in a number of capacities as a Director of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. He was recently honored by the local American-Italian Cultural Club as the "Oldest Living Immigrant". Mr. Drago was characterized as a hard-working, "self-made man", intensely focused and dedicated to whatever task he set for himself. He told great stories of his life as a child in Sicily and as a young businessman in Port Arthur. We will miss his stories. Visitation will be held at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, beginning at 5pm on Wednesday, April 7th with a rosary beginning at 7pm. Funeral services will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur on Thursday, April 8th at 11am with internment to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.