HOUSTON: Sockalingam “Sam” Kannappan was honored with two titles on September 12, 2026 by Bharathi Kalai Manram (BKM) , Houston, USA as Founding Member and Tamil Community Pioneer Award.
BKM was founded in 1974. Kannappan was born in Nattarasankottai, Sivagangai dist, Tamil Nadu. He graduated with BE (Hons) degree from Annamalai University and with Masters degree the University of Texas at Austin. He moved to Houston in 1969.
As a young boy, he repaired local roads, assisted with installation of street lights, raised funds for local Bharathi library and conducted two free eye camps in Nattaarasankottai. In Houston, he established Patients hospitality committee, started Hindu cremation procedures, served as Editor of the Hindu Worship Society, screened first Tamil Movie Uyarntha Manithan. He served as Co-Chairman of Millennium festival and built 180 homes in Kutch after Gujarat earthquake.
As Founder Secretary, he built Ganesh and Meenakshi temples. He established Houston Tamil Studies Chair at the University of Houston. Kannappan authored Pipe Stress Analysis book, published by John Wiley and Sons, NY in 1985. He is also author of Engineering software EZFLEX. Created Tamil font with voice synthesizer to assist MGR. He is a Real Estate Broker in Texas, Registered Professional Engineer, Texas, ASME B31.3 code committee Member, ASME Gas Pipeline Safety Research Committee, Charter Member, Society of Piping Engineers, Houston.
