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Former diner owner honored with street sign
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Central Ohio officials dedicated a street sign Thursday to Tommy Pappas, memorializing the owner of the restaurant staple Tommy's Diner.
City leaders and community members gathered to celebrate the moment, honoring Pappas' legacy with a street sign that will be seen for years to come.
'I think it's cool that his name is going to be on there and my kids will see, great-grandkids one day, you know?' Michael Pappas, Tommy Pappas' son, said. 'It's just, it's just such an honor and it doesn't happen often, and for my dad, with what he overcame in his life to where he ended up, it's a great story.'
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Groups of people stood outside Tommy's Diner to watch the unveiling of Tom Pappas Way. As speakers talked about him immigrating here in 1977, opening the diner, chairing the Columbus' Greek Festival, but most of all, his service.
Tommy Pappas died in December, surrounded by his family.
'I think we just celebrate Tommy's life, his contributions, but also look to his service and what he did for this neighborhood and for our whole city to inspire us to do more,' Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said.
Leaders say the sign should serve as a reminder of what one life can do, for his family, the support over the past few decades is what makes this celebration even more special.
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'Without Franklinton, without Columbus, who knows where we would be, you know what I mean,' Michael Pappas said. 'In the 36 years we've been here, and it's been, and the support and the amount of love that, you know, we got showered with after he passed, it just means everything.'
Michael Pappas also said he hopes people take away the impact his father had on the community as a kind and good-hearted person.
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