HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-12-23, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1986.
Bill Stephenson
Heading for an easier life
BILL AND VELMA STEPHENSON
BY TOBY RAINEY
The face of Brussels changed in a
subtleway, and anera ended in
mid-Novcmber, when one of the
town’s most respected business
men finally decided to take life a bit
easier, bringing to an end more
than 50 years of work weeks which
often ran to 80 hours or more.
Bill Stephenson, former owner
of Stephenson’s Grocery, is very
definitely a self-made man, and
proud of the lifetime of dedication
to duty which has brought him
enormous satisfaction and pride.
Often brusque and crusty on the
surface, his manner camouflages a
Furniture
Specials
... and much more
•Desks - $89.00
•Microwave Stands - $99.00
•Book Cases - $69.00
•China Cabinets - $249.00
•4 Drawer Chests - $88.00
•Night Stands - $59.00
CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY ------ ”
Insulated coveralls, work parkas, work pants, shirts, socks, blue jeans by Levi, GWG, Blue Jay,
Johnathan G 2 pc Snow Suits for adults, teens and children, safety workshoes, rubber boots,
snow joggers.
Ladies Shaker Knit Sweaters $ 1 9 95
Ladies Slippers $5 95
Mens Cords $19 95I-
Mens Coveralls
Canadian Made Sizes 32-46 $24 95 $
Boys Corduroy & Suede Lined t
Jackets $22 95 |
•Toys
•Yarns
•Gift Items
•Sporting Goods
WINGHAM
SALES ARENA
Just North of Wingham on Hwy No 4
OPEN Mon • Sat. 9:00 - 6:00 Fn nights till 9 00 p m
wry senseof humour and a great
respect for his fellow man, which is
the basis of his long-standing
success as a merchant and has
earned him the devotion and
loyalty ofcustomers and staff alike.
“ But I’ve been helped a lot along
the way,” he is quick to point out.
“It’s the people of this town that
have made the store a good
business. They’ve been perfect -
couldn’t ask for any better.”
A child of the Depression, Mr.
Stephenson had the opportunity to
become a doctor in his early years,
but chose instead notto swallow his
pride and beg a return to the
/-BULK FOODS • BAKING GOODS • BAKING
SUPPLIES
Hundreds of items to choose from choice quality golden and
Sultana faisins, Pecans, Walnuts, Spices & Extracts, Hard &
Soft Wheat Flour, (White, Brown) & Icing Sugar, Glazed
Fruits, include - Cherries, Mixed Fruits, Pineapple Wedges,
Bulk Cookies, Candy, Chocolate, Snack Foods, Imported
Foods
Dates
Coconut Sweetened or Unsweeteded
English Mints
Red River Cereal
-Soup Filler
Quaker Quick Oats
$1 69 lb
$1 39 lb.
$2.29 lb.
$.54 lb
$.54 lb.
$ 44 lb.
357-1730
9
Brussels High School, after being
expelled in Grade 11 for putting a
live frog down a school-mate’s
dress. (‘‘She’s still in town, too,
and has never really fotgiven me
for it,” he chuckles.)
Mr. Stephenson had to take the
winter of his Grade 10 year off
school, when he was only 15, in
order to support a family of
younger brothers and sisters while
his father was ill, and the $2 per day
he could earn looked pretty good to
him a year later when he found
himself again out of school.
He remembers, with just a shade
of regret for missing the opportun
ity, that the town doctor, a friend of
the family, begged him to return to
complete his education, and offer
ed to pay all his expenses to
medical school, ifhewouldonly go.
But anyone was lucky just to
have a job during the Depression,
and two days after being kicked out
of school, Bill had a full-time
position with East Huron Produce
in Brussels, a distributor for
poultry, eggs and apples. He
began as a labourer, but his
supervisors recognized his un
canny business savvy immediate
ly, and by the time he was 18, he
had been moved into junior
management with the firm.
He worked at the Brussels
packers until 1961, more than 23
years, becoming manager of the
sprawling complex when the busi
ness was sold to Export Packers of
Torontoin 1959. In 1961, he was
moved to a branch plant in Dublin,
as the manager of a staff of 90,
although he still commuted daily to
Brussels, often not getting home
until 2:30 a.m., and heading back
by 7:00 next morning.
“I loved it, my whole heart and
soul was in the job,” he says. But
within a few years, his wife and
devoted helpmate, Velma, at home
with small children, became so
frustrated by his hours that when
the Willis Bakery (now Todd’s
Bakery) went up for sale in 1965,
the Stephensons bought the pro
perty and turned it into a grocery
store.
Continued on Pg. 15
Township'-' x «
| Council and Staff -I®4 3
‘Best
Wishes
We wish you happiness
and serenity this holi-
day season and always. )
\
y Ik *
"wii1 J
' JKkLt w