OCCUPATION: high school student (formerly) private in the united states army (formerly) shareholder in the gardner steel corporation (formerly)
STRENGTHS: fighting: mentioned by ponyboy, sam was a mediocre fighter, having defended himself in the rumble between the socs and greasers in 1965. it is plausible that training in the army had turned him into a skilled fighter.
intelligence: although popular and a jock-stereotype, sam was extremely intelligent and among the top scholars in his grade. he was waiting for offers from universities regarding medical program entrances before his decision to join the army.
compassion: perhaps one of his most notable and unusual traits, sam possessed an extreme depth of empathy that extends to greasers and socs alike. this trait was his motivation to join the army, as he felt he did not want to be exempt because of his background and economic status.
athleticism: during high school, sam played football as a wide receiver and participated in baseball as well. he was known among the students as an extremely talented athlete.
WEAKNESSES: protectiveness: although regarded by himself as a pleasant trait, sam's tendency to guard what and who he loves often clashes with the interests of the other. this is primarily seen in his relationship with virginia curtis as he did not want her to engage in a friendship with dallas winston and his need to protect her propelling him to join the army although it came as a shock to her.
rivalry: as shown when he defends virginia from dallas at the drive-in, sam had a tendency to pursue needless rivalries, especially with greasers.
absence of a father: sam was around two years old when his father died in active combat during the korean war. as such, he never understood what a father's love meant and wondered the extent of his father's shallowness regarding the line between business and family.
pressures of elitism: as a soc, sam felt the pressure and the need to succeed, both as an elite member of society and as a gardner. his considerably wealthy background acted as a mask and often a trap for him to fall into relationships by wealth-merit. these expectations to take over the family business impeded his passion to become a doctor.
FROM: new york city, new york
PRIME RESIDENCE: tulsa, oklahoma
CHARACTER TYPE: supporting
STATUS: deceased
QUOTES (* denoting in print) : * ❝YOU'RE A FORCE THE WORLD NEEDS NOW MORE THAN EVER.❞
* ❝YOU ARE THE DREAM I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED.❞
❝SOC OR NO SOC, I THINK OUR PROBLEMS ARE ALL THE SAME. THEY'RE JUST IN DIFFERENT WORLDS.❞
❝I NEVER SAW MYSELF AS THE BUSINESS GUY BUT EVERYONE THINKS I'M GONNA BE SOMETHING BIG JUST BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE WANT ME TO. IT'S LIKE I CAN'T ESCAPE WHAT I'M BORN INTO.❞
DISCLAIMER: information is up to date as the character is deceased/inactive in the story.
