Greek Connection
Andrew Arge Brockles was born Andreas Argyris Mprakoulias in 1891 in Melissi Greece. His name was “Americanized” to its familiar form upon immigrating from Greece to the U.S. in 1910.
Mprakoulias is pronounced Brakoulias, which is also the American spelling of the Greek. The name Brockles, from Brakoulias, is properly pronounced Brock’-less.
Here is Grandad’s Brakoulias family, starting with his own grandfather Andreas, his father Argyris, and listing his brothers and sisters.
- Andreas Aspropotamitis Brakoulias (1830-1872) and wife Eleni.
- Argyris Aspropotamitis (1865-1939) and wife Angeliki Nikolopolou
- Andreas Argyris (1891-1965) Grandad
- Vasili (Basil) Argyris (1895-1956) Uncle Bill
- Sophia (1900-1916)
- Maria (1902-1916)
- Yeorgos Argyris (1903-1907)
- Haralabos Argyris (1904-1970) Uncle Harry
- Kostantinos Argyris (1907-1959) Uncle Kostas (or Gus)
- Spiros Argyris (1909-1985) Uncle Spiro
- Argyris Aspropotamitis (1865-1939) and wife Angeliki Nikolopolou
The family lived in the town of Melissi, which is on the southern shore of the Corinthian Gulf a few miles west of Corinth, on the Peloponnesian peninsula. Here is a travelog photo of the beach at Melissi.
I remember visits to Dallas from great uncle Harry (Gella’s dad) and uncle Spiro when I was young. As I recall, they came to visit on more than one occasion.
Grandad’s family
- Andrew Arge Brockles Sr. (1891-1965) and wife Ola Feltnor
- Sophia Maria and husband Chester Ellis Sr.
- Jimmy (me)
- Billy
- Chester Jr.
- Michael
- Andrew Arge Jr. and wife Chrisanthy Sourelis
- Maria
- Andrew III
- Patricia
- Alethia and husband Thomas E. Alt Sr.
- Angela
- Tom Jr.
- Barbara
- Christina
- Elena
- Danny
- Arge James and wife Pauline Menos
- Linda
- James
- Sarah Margaret and husband Glenn Smith
- Stepdaughters Terri and Dana
- Sophia Maria and husband Chester Ellis Sr.
By the way, I noticed that I am Argyri Brakoulias’ oldest child’s oldest child’s oldest child. 
Uncle Bill’s family
- Basil Arge Brockles (1895-1956), wife Abigail Alston
- Basil Jr. and wife Lois Calhoun
- Basil III
- Lois Ann (L A)
- Cynthia Gayle
- Thomas Arthur
- Nancy Alayne
- Angela Grace and Tom Pascoe
- Laura
- Fred
- Barbara
- Elaine Pandora and E. V. Doty
- Erceal
- George
- Tillman
- Georgene and Bobby Griffin
- Bobby Jr.
- Benny
- Dianne
- Mark
- Constance and Ivey McNabb
- Rex
- Lex
- Jay
- Greg
- Basil Jr. and wife Lois Calhoun
Grandad’s other brothers who remained in Greece – info supplied by Gella.
- Haralambos Brakoulias (1904-1970) and wife Katina Antonopoulou
- Gella (Angeliki) and husband Panos Diplas
- Katerina
- Bill
- Anthony
- Gella (Angeliki) and husband Panos Diplas
- Kostas Brakoulias (1907-1959) and wife Ismini
- Vlasia
- Kostas
- Spiros Brakoulias (1909-1985) and wife Dimitra
- Sofia
- Argyris and wife Georgia
- Spiros
- Dimitra
- Kiki
- Maria (a.k.a. Miriam)
Honored for support to Greece during WWII
Andrew Brockles Sr. was given a medal by Premier Venizelos of Greece in 1951 for his service and aid to Greece during World War II. He was president of the Dallas chapter of Greek War Relief among other activities to aid Greece during that time. Here is a Dallas newspaper clipping noting the event.
Jim hi,
Since this is open to extended family, I thought I would sign in and applaud you for this unique effort. I am your uncle Haralabos daughter. I really enjoyed what I saw so far. Margaret just let me know about it. Only some small typo correction. I think the “middle” name, which is uncle Andrew’s father’s name is Argyris, and the small village is Melissi. I was there this past July.
I am looking forward to getting in touch with all of you.
Gella Diplas
September 10, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Thanks for the corrections, Gella. I am so glad aunt Margaret let you know about our website. It is great to hear from you. You are family indeed!
Jim
September 10, 2007 at 1:25 pm
My wife went to Woodrow Wilson High School and knew Andrew. We were wondering if there is a place were we could get the dressing?
Thanks
Eric Florance
November 4, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Sorry, Eric. The Special Dressing has not been produced for many years. There are no plans to produce it again.
Jim
November 5, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Jim,
I’m writing to help fill in the gaps on the Basil, Sr. side of the family.
(Details deleted by Jim — added above)
This will have to do for now. If there are any other additions/deletions, I’ll send those later.
Please keep me on your radar.
Thom
Thomas Arthur Brockles
March 19, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hi, My name is Lex Brockles Putnam, Sr. I am the son of Constance Brockles McNabb, Rex’s twin brother. I would like to be added to the web geneology. Thank you.
Done. Sorry, . . . I overlooked your name in the info from Thom.
Jim
Lex Brockles Putnam, Sr.
March 20, 2008 at 8:01 am
It has been so nice to see many of Uncle Basil’s children and grandchildren take part in this. I would really like to get an update of this side of the family also. I am the only Brackoulia family member representing the “born in Greece” side of the family. I would even like to see if I can get some of the computer savvy cousins in Greece to participate. It would be very informative for them to know a litle more about uncle Andrew and uncle Vasili. I will try to find out if there are any them with computer access. The younger generation might be more likely. I am thinking maybe Sofia’s daughters, or Kiki’s daughter. As for me I find the whole blog very interesting. I get to know aspects of the family and the popularity of the Brockles dressing that I never knew. I even remember how much I liked the dressing that I tried first time in my life when I came to America with my dad (Haralambos).
Gella
Gella (Brackoulia) Diplas
April 7, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Great to hear from you again, Gella. Yes it would be wonderful if we could get some cousins from Greece to visit the site and interact.
Jim
April 7, 2008 at 7:12 pm
If I wanted to go to Greece and meet my extended family who would I contact?
Julie
September 23, 2008 at 10:34 am
Julie,
Contacting cousin Gella would be my recommendation. She’s our best link to that side of the family. I’ll email you her contact info.
Jim
September 23, 2008 at 11:11 am
First of all, I would like to thank gella for introducing me to this site…. Gella, you can’t imagine how touched I am to see these pictures… My God!!! Melissi???? I’ve spent every summer of my childhood in that village!
I am Kiki’s daughter Maria and I live in Athens and even though I don’t know any one of you I can certainly say it feels like a great family!!!!
maria brakoulia
August 4, 2009 at 5:34 pm
It is wonderful to hear from you Maria. I am so glad Gella told you about the Brockles web site. I remember visits from your grandfather Spiro when I was young.
Please allow me to correspond further by email soon.
Jim
August 4, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I see that my brother, Thomas A. Brockles, has filled in most of the blanks. I currently live in Florida with my husband of 33 years. My Father, Basil A. Brockles, Jr., was one of the finest and most ethical men on this earth. Since his death, I now see those characteristics in my husband. How strange. Please keep me posted on all that happens on this website. I love reading about my family. By the way, I married the Bar-B-Q king’s son from Dallas.
L. A. Brockles Malin
October 4, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Thanks for visiting the website, L.A. I fondly remember seeing you and enjoying a little Ouzo with your father at the Lake House reunion a few years ago. Warmest regards.
Jim
October 5, 2009 at 8:34 am