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Hungarian emigrants happy
to have found freedom and a chance for a fresh start, worked hard,
studied, and quickly became good citizens. The receiving countries were
happy with the newcomers who were eager to give of their talent and
experience and help build their young adopted country. More than half a
dozen earned Nobel prizes for their new country. Life in America would
probably be different without St. Louis Post-Dispatch publisher Joseph
Pulitzer, Paramount Studios' founder Adolph Zukor, conductors Antal
Dorati, George Solti and George Szell, actresses Zsa Zsa Gabor and
Mariska Hargitay, actors Tony Curtis, Peter Lorre, Bela Lugosi 
and
comedian Ernie Kovacs, jazz man Gabor Szabo, football heroes Joe Namath,
Larry Csonka and Don Shula, and financial giants Andrew Sarlos and
George Soros, the philanthropist. Three famous physicists who attended
the same school in Budapest went to America, helped to win the war and,
for better or worse, changed history forever: Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner
and Edward Teller are recognized for their work in the field of atomic
and nuclear energy. Andrew Grove (András Gróf) runs Intel. Let's not
forget to thank Agoston Haraszthy for bringing over those wonderful vine
shoots, the foundation of the California wine industry. Hungarian
contribution to the development of America is extensive.
OUT OF THE MELTING POT
Wishing to be loyal
citizens of their new country, some Hungarians changed their names and
stopped speaking Hungarian at home to help their children adapt.
Fortunately, you may meet a Susan Wood who speaks only English-but still
has lingering childhood memories that tie her to Hungary and the
Hungarian culture. Or perhaps while researching or putting together the
family tree you have discovered ancestors who came from Hungary. Why
don't you come to Hungary this year, and get to know your ancestral land
and learn about your roots first hand!