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BIO of Vincent and Sophie Germano:
In 1948, following an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy,
Vincent Germano and Sophie Cwik, born and raised in Poughkeepsie
New York, were married. In an era of un-intrusive government, we
went into private business. Through hard work and long hours, we
achieved a good measure of economic success in the land
development and building business. We owned our home free and
clear of a mortgage, learned to fly and purchased two (Mooney
aircraft, 5558Q and 4015N) to aid in conducting our business
throughout the state. Numerous dealings with New York banks were
cordial and absent any default or controversy.
In 1979, we moved our family to Kingwood, Texas, intending to
resume our business. However, our plans were cancelled upon the
abrupt downturn of the oil industry. In 1981, based on a
feasibility study by the Oklahoma Appraisal Company, we
purchased a parcel of land at Interstate 40, Oklahoma City, OK,
next to Mc Donald’s. Based on letters by several New York banks
regarding our timely payments of sizeable mortgage loans, we
obtained a construction loan from the Guaranty Bank, of Oklahoma
City. Together with approximately $400,000.00 of our own money,
we constructed the first, of the planned two-phase motel
project, complete with rental office, manager’s apartment and
hot water system to service the additional rooms.
December 1981 named American Inn and opened for business, the
first section of the planned two-phase motel project, exceeded
occupancy rates for similar motels and was appraised for
$1,500,000.00. However, due to the bank’s and our legal
counselors’ refusal to close the Tinker re-mortgage commitment,
the motel development was stopped and taken from us for the
bank, based on summary judgments awarded in violation of a trial
by jury and any semblance of constitutionally guaranteed due
process.
Victim Impact Statement: The taking of our motel representing all that we worked for
since our marriage in 1948 so devastated our credit standing
that there was no hope of resuming our once successful family
business and only source of income. In addition, caused us to suffer severe physical and
psychological injuries which altered our very way of life. If not for our children we
would be homeless today.
The struggle to defend our business
property dissipated our savings and necessitated selling our
home, automobile, gun collection, and to cash in whole life
insurance policies for day to day living expenses. Income,
limited to Social Security and a small veteran disability, we
were unable to attend yearly family reunions and funerals of
family members and friends. As a result of the trauma and mental
anguish suffered since 1985, Sophie and Vincent Germano,
suffered severe depression, worry and sleeping disorders, both are taking medication
for anxiety, depression etc.
Such crimes also affected our children. Wayne Germano,
manager of the American Inn, seen his efforts to defend his
parents business and property systematically denied over the
years, suffered Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
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