a communist country to come to the
land of the free and endless opportunities.
A: Yes, I’ve been married for 28 years
now. We met in high school and
have been together ever since.
Q: What’s the most daring thing
you’ve ever done?
A: Leave my home country and my
family for a chance at a better life,
to be able to give back to my family
back home.
Q: How did you get into your field?
A: When I first got to the states I
didn’t speak much English at all and
got a job in a pizzeria in the Bronx,
New York, worked my way up and
learned to make pizzas and cook
Italian food favorites, and that’s how
I got into the pizza and Italian restaurant business.
Q: What accomplishment are you
most proud of?
A: My proudest achievements are
honestly raising my children as best
as I could, being able to help my
family back home, and building the
biggest and most beautiful house for
my father and mother back in my
hometown.
Q: Are you married? How did you
meet your spouse?
Q: Would you recommend your
career for other people? Why?
A: This is a tough industry, and really
it’s not for everyone … . It’s a lot of
long hours, lots of hard work; but
when you hear positive feedback it
makes it all worth it.
best advice, what would you say?
A: Strap your chinstrap, lace up your
boots, work your butt off and never
let your dreams fade.
Q: If you could choose one person
from history to have dinner with, who
would it be?
A: I’d love to meet George
Washington.
Q: Who in your life has influenced
you the most? How?
A: My father. He gave me my work
ethic – how tough it is to be a great
father and how to be a great son to
him.
Q: What would you most like to be
remembered for?
A: For being an honest and humble
family man.
Q: If someone asked you for your
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chris A. Bryant
JANUARY 2016
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Retired
Q: What are you retired from?
A: I was with the Department of
Defense at Fort Hood as Director of
Training for three years, IBM, Harris
Hospital Rehab, a year of medical school, counselor, four years
of medical training and I still work
with UNT under the president. I
completed 36 semesters of college,
going year round. I worked with the
Department of Justice also. I have the
same degree as Dr. Phil and studied
with him in the same classes for one
year at UNT in Denton. When I was
21, I was involved in a motorcycle
accident that left me disabled and in
a wheel chair. I actually died three
times while in the hospital for three
months, and was then in rehab for
nine more months.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Bible. Magazine is Popular
Science.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Patch Adams, because I see a lot
of myself in the movie.
Q: What kind of music are you into?
A: Old rock and roll
88
Q: What’s the most daring thing
you’ve ever done?
A: Para-sailing, but I’ve also ridden
a 4-wheeler, gone elk hunting in
Colorado, flew an airplane, and water
skied, all since I’ve been disabled.
Q: What accomplishment are you
most proud of?
A: That I am blessed to believe, my
schooling, and have been an innovator and groundbreaker for disabled
people.
Q: When you were a child, what did
you want to be when you grew up?
A: A veterinarian.
Q: If you could visit any place in the
world, where would you go?
A: Ukraine and Russia. I’ve already
been to 11 foreign countries.
Q: Who is the one person you’d like
to meet?
A: Actually two. I love to laugh and
make people happy, so it would be
Bob Hope and Robin Williams.
Q: What’s your favorite hobby?
A: Meeting new people.
Q: If you could go back in history,
who is the one person you would like
to meet?
A: Jesus Christ.
Q: If someone asked you to give
them your best piece of advice, what
would you say?
A: Be honest, be true to yourself and
be true to others.
Q: What would you most like to be
remembered for?
A: Being a caring, helping person
who tried to give back to society
some of the goodness that’s been lost.
Footnote: Chris now has his third
service dog named Ripley. Trinity
Bible Church (where Chris is a
member) raised the money for him.