West University Vietnam War veteran and businessman takes a stand for community and country
Carloss was studying at Vanderbilt University, intending to be a medical missionary, when the war was in full swing. But he felt called to duty when he saw the young men who were going off to war.
“I felt guilty,” he admits. “Sitting in college while the poor white, black, Hispanic and Puerto Rican poor kids were drafted and going to Vietnam. And it’s the same thing now; rich kids don’t serve but the poor ones do.”
So he left school and spent seven years in the Army, doing two tours to Vietnam and being severely wounded before ending his military career as a captain in the Green Berets.
Today he owns Venetian Blinds Carpet One, a company his mother and father bought in 1952. The business turns 60 this year and recently received the 2012 Pinnacle Award of Excellence from the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston. The company has never received a BBB complaint, in part because of the lifetime installation guarantee offered to clients, and because of the dedication of its employees.
The elegant showroom in Rice Village has thousands of samples of flooring and fixtures, some 40 employees — many who have been with the company for decades — and dozens of awards and accolades from satisfied customers from River Oaks to Kingwood.
As part of his dedication to the community Carloss started a philanthropic program in which he donates 5 percent of the purchase price to customers’ favorite charities. Six percent if the customer pays by check. The Holocaust Museum of Houston recently received a check for $1,200 thanks to a Memorial couple’s purchase.
“We don’t need to do a lot of advertising,” Carloss says. “Because 93 percent of our business is repeat or referral. I had rather redirect my advertising budget toward Houston area Philanthropic gifting. Houston has blessed my family and I want to say thank you and give back.”
A successful business and helping charities may seem to be every man’s dream, but it wasn’t enough for Carloss, who felt compelled to do more.
“I was very much against going to war in Iraq in 2003” he says. “It cost me dearly, but I knew what war was, I knew what was going to happen to those kids. And when I read about all this young people coming back traumatized and wounded, all the suicides, divorces, homelessness and unemployment, I knew I had to do something.”
And he did. He created Operation American Heroes, a nonprofit that raises funds for service organizations that help our country’s veterans and first responders.
“I looked around and saw that there were already a lot of great organizations providing support services to our heroes, but they lacked funding,” says Carloss. “I guess it was a dream from God, I woke up at 2:30 a.m. on September 17, 2008 and wrote down the name of the organization Operation American Heroes its mission and a business plan. I have no doubt my dream was divinely inspired .”
He went back to sleep, but woke up a few hours latter and drew the logo for OAH, a medal featuring a bald eagle painted as the American flag.
OAH was granted nonprofit status in 2009 and began raising funds. And while the all-volunteer organization hasn’t achieved its goal yet, it has some lofty ideals.
Last year the West University Rotary Club and the Southwest 59 Sunrise Rotary Club of Fort Bend County made significant donations and a major fundraiser held in November this year added to the total. This year on November 9th will be the major event with keynote speaker Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North.
“Our board of directors is vetting service organizations now,” Carloss says. “But ultimately I want this to be a national organization with businesses across the country contributing to help our heroes. The government can’t do everything so it’s time for American business to help out.”
Carloss envisions a national American Heroes Week around 9/11 where businesses donate a small percentage of their total sales to OAH.
“I think we could raise $500 million for a permanent endowment,” he says. “And then we’ll have the 21-Gun Saluters where individuals can show their support by donating $21 annually to the Forever Fund. The interest from this endowment will be given as grants to service organizations.” Underwriters will cover the cost of OAH’s administration expenses.
Venetian Blind Carpet One’s motto is We Honor Your Trust and for Carloss that applies to American heroes.
“I’m an independent, very patriotic American,” Carloss says. “A global humanist. I think we can all give a little for the few have given so much.”
Venetian Blind Carpet One Floor & Home is located at 2504 Bissonnet Street. The Operation American Heroes Web site iswww.operationamericanheores.org.