George Salem Sr

This article as about the restaurateur, for the health executive, see George B. Salem.

George Salem Sr (born August 10, 1892 in Ramallah, Palestine; died July 10, 1957 in Birmingham) was a restaurateur.

George was the son of Ankar and Fahdeh Salem, residents of Palestine under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. He first came to the United States in 1909 and enlisted for duty in World War I from Brooklyn, New York. He settled in Birmingham in 1927.

Salem frequently visited family members in Ramallah, which became part of the Jordanian-controlled West Bank after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He made his last visit in November 1956.

Salem died after a long illness in July 1957. Reverend Emanuel Bouyoucas of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church presided at the funeral and he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

Salem was survived by his wife, four sons (Badie, Sam, Hallie and Fred) and two daughters (Lelia and Widad).

References

• "George Salem" obituary (July 11, 1957) The Birmingham News