Nov 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 11

In 1959 Samuel Helfman opened a car lot on Washington Avenue.
His son Jack, Alan’s dad, worked side by side with Samuel learning all he could about the car business.
A legacy that would be handed down through the Helfman family for generations to come.
ered to decide who might be the recipient of their
first ever LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Alan
Helfman was the first name everyone selected.
Here’s how it all got started.
THE HISTORY OF HELFMAN AUTO
The legacy of Helman’s entry into the auto business
dates to 1959 when Alan’s grandfather Samuel
Helfman opened a used car lot in 1959 on Washington
Avenue just south of I-10 (The car lot was
there for the longest time under a variety of different
owners from W&R Auto Sales to Buddy’s Used
Cars). Alan’s dad, Jack Helfman, worked alongside
his father Samuel honing his sales skills while
at the same time helping to build a successful
used car dealership. That experience gained over
13 years working with his dad laid the foundation
to what would become a successful 39-year
relationship with Chrysler. Fueled by the success
of Helfman Motors, Jack began looking into the
possibility of selling new cars. He had his eyes set
on a small dealership, inside the loop, owned by
a local businessman named Bob Ring. Soon the
papers were signed, and in 1972 the Helfman’s took
control of River Oaks Chrysler Plymouth. Unfortunately,
Samuel Helfman would pass away shortly
after the Helfman’s acquired the dealership.
During Jack Helfman’s years of success as a
dealer, he had been very involved in the community.
For the past 30+ years he had been a major
contributor to the Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care
Services, a nursing home in the Houston area.
Contributing not only money, but his time as well.
Throughout his years of service to Seven Acres, he
donated wheelchairs, walkers, and other supplies
as they were needed. He also encouraged his children
into the service of the elderly, and on many
occasions, they would spend their time reading to
the residents. When it came time for the annual
Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services Gala, he
would donate a car or truck for raffle, and personally
make the calls necessary to sell the raffle tickets.
In 2001 Jack Helfman and his wife Elaine were
presented with the 2001 Sprit of Life Award at that
year’s annual Seven Acres Gala. But that was only
one of many charities he had given to. He annually
contributed to: The United Jewish Federation,
Muscular Dystrophy, March of Dimes, United Way,
The BLUES 65
The BLUES 65