Talking Shop with Ralph LeGrand of Sears

Ralph LeGrand finished 50 years at Sears. He reflected on a long, successful career.

Q: How did you come to be employed by Sears 50 years ago?

A: I worked at the Red Star shoe factory on Main Street until it closed in 1963. It was tough when it closed. I had a family to take care of. I applied all over and Sears just opened a new store on William Street. I was fortunate to get hired there. I got hired to deliver and worked on the delivery truck for six years. I went to the service department next. I was in the Navy before that, and went to refrigeration school on a GI Bill and have been in the service department ever since. I love what I do. I've been treated fairly and I've never wanted to apply anywhere else.

Q: What has been the biggest change you've experienced as a worker?

A: Things changed slowly, so we don't always notice. We service a much larger area now, from 20 to 30 miles to 120 miles from Cape Girardeau. Appliances use more electronics on them and there's more to work with; the appliances were mostly mechanical with more work to diagnose. We work over an expanded area now and service is more centralized. We worked out of the local store and now service is done out of the home office in Kansas City, Mo. We operate more on the phone and computers. We do repairs for all the stores in the area.

Changes come about gradually, and I don't think about them day to day. When we went from the old store to the new store, I was the only one still employed from the old store, so I got to cut the ribbon. It was a big deal and there was a story in the paper.

Q: Based on what you've seen in the past five decades, what leads to success or failure for businesses?

A: Taking care of customers and strive every day to do right. You have to take care of the customer and give good value for the money they spend. The store sells products and we repair it when they have problems. Hopefully they don't, but we're there and it's a good thing. They need someone who is available to do repairs. Some places sell but don't have anyone to follow up.

Q: According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median amount of time a worker was employed at the same job in January 2012 was 4.6 years. What do you think contributed to your staying with your employer so long?

A: I've always enjoyed service work and working for a great company like Sears with great benefits has given me a reason to stay. I've never applied at another job. I've always enjoyed what I do and never wanted to go anywhere else. Sears has been around for 150 years. I've grown up with it before I worked there. My parents traded there. We got the catalog and went to the store on Main Street. We bought clothing and appliances from Sears. Sears has been good to me. The people I work with have been like a second family. When you're treated right, paid fairly and enjoy your work, you have no reason to go anywhere else. I get up and look forward to work. I've enjoyed repairs and have been satisfied where I was.

Q: What advice would you give to people just starting their careers?

A: Be someone who enjoys what they do, and do the best they can. Strive to treat the customer fairly. What it's all about is treating the customer fairly and they come back. If you don't, the business goes away.

Q: What are you planning to do next?

A: I get to do things I wanted to with my family. I have five children, 12 grandkids and two great-grandkids. I'll be able to spend more time with family and go to games and school activities that I couldn't before. I get to take them fishing and do more leisure things that I thought I didn't have time to do. I'll learn to slow down and relax more. I always felt like I had to keep going.

I've made a lot of friends and it's hard to leave but there comes a time you have to quit, and I thought 50 years was a good milestone.

apicar@semissourian.com

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