(Editor’s note: These comments were delivered by the family of W.T. “Ted” Scheets, who was recognized by the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce with its “Lifetime Achievement Award.”)
Good evening, and thank you to the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce members for choosing to honor our father, W.T. (Ted) Scheets, with this award.
For past anniversary and birthday celebrations for our parents including daddy’s 99th birthday party in November, we usually recognized their involvement in the church. Tonight, however, we want to focus on some shared moments in history, moments for both daddy and the City of Houston.
Daddy does, indeed, have a long, rich history of involvement with the City of Houston, the city council, Texas County and the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce. And he did volunteer, in various roles, from parking cars at the fair to serving as president of the chamber.
In 1938, daddy became a John Deere dealer, operating under the store name of Scheets & Son, the name of the business his father, W. B. Scheets and his oldest brother, John Scheets, owned at Clara, which was five miles west of Houston. Soon, daddy was ready to go out on his own.
In June 1940, with the grand sum of $625, daddy opened the doors of Scheets Hardware in Houston. Because the country was still recovering from the Depression and would soon enter World War II, obtaining enough merchandise to stock the shelves was difficult. Daddy was already weekly driving a livestock truck to St. Louis. At that time the section of U.S. 63 from Yancy Mill to Rolla was not paved and the remainder of the drive was on historic Route 66. Before returning to Houston, daddy searched in St. Louis for merchandise he thought the farmers and residents of Houston and Texas County would need. Daddy had always planned to have an official grand opening for the store, but he sold the merchandise almost as fast as he could get the truck unloaded. So, no grand opening was ever held.
Within a short period of time, daddy quickly expanded his John Deere dealership. He later became the New Holland dealer, added several brands of chain saws, lawn mowers and garden tillers, in addition to hardware items. Daddy’s one-man operation in the beginning grew to as many as 10 employees working for him at one time.
When World War II broke out, all Houston businessmen were notified to assemble for one day at the courthouse to assist with the rationing process. One high school senior girl was assigned to each businessman to help record names. Each family in the county had to register in order to be allotted rationing books, according to family size, in order to obtain various commodities that were in short supply. Daddy was then appointed to serve on the Rationing Board in charge of distributing non-highway gasoline and fuel oil to farmers and sawmills.
In compiling this information, we found it was often hard to differentiate between the Houston Chamber of Commerce activities and the Houston City Council activities. After the end of World War II, there was much to be done to develop the city’s electrical, street and sewer system. During daddy’s term on city council, the City of Houston chose to buy its own electric system, which not only saved the city much money but was also a significant source of revenue. The streets of Houston needed to be graded and paved. Daddy and the late S. E. “Si” Ferguson, another local businessman, located a used road grader from the highway department and went together to purchase it for the city. Even today, the streets of Houston are a source of pride. The third major improvement was the city’s need for a sewer system. Since daddy had continued to haul livestock to St. Louis for local farmers on a weekly basis, he arranged to pick up all the sewer tile. Now, the City of Houston had its first municipal sewer system
In 1943, Daddy joined the small group of volunteer city firemen. The department owned one hose-carrying truck, no pump and a hose with a one-inch nozzle. The City of Houston did not purchase a new truck until 1951 after the disastrous fire at the Houston Herald office. Daddy received permission from the city council to sell memberships/fire dues to provide protection to homeowners outside the city limits. The insurance company, however, balked at this idea. Since the insurance company at that time would not permit it, the city fire truck would not be able to fight fires outside the city limits. Daddy led the organization and the Houston Rural Fire Department became a separate entity in 1952. The first truck was a brand new 1952 Ford truck. Daddy recalls that the first call was to the Clarence and Beatrice Goldsberry farm in the White Rock Community west of Houston. Daddy took that fire call, drove the truck by himself and began pumping water at the fire at the Goldsberrys in a mere 14 minutes. Some later called daddy “the father of the Houston Rural Fire Department.” The Houston Rural Fire Department is believed to have been the third rural department developed in Missouri. Daddy and the late Herman Head served as co-chiefs of the rural fire department for many years. Daddy also served as Houston city fire chief until 1959 when he suffered smoke inhalation in the fire that destroyed several businesses on Grand Avenue, including where Brown Shoe Store is today. Due to health issues stemming from the 1959 fire, Daddy had to resign from both departments. Today both the City of Houston Fire Department and the Houston Rural Fire Department, their personnel and equipment, are the envy of other communities.
In 1945, the Houston Chamber of Commerce was faced with a dilemma. The annual Jersey Parish Show, a regional dairy cattle exhibit had been held in Cabool the previous year. Houston had been invited to host the show in 1945, but there was no suitable building and tents were too expensive. At the monthly chamber meeting the members were discouraged and no one wanted to be embarrassed. Fortunately for both daddy and the city, daddy had an idea. He was hoping to build a warehouse for Scheets Hardware. (Time for a quick geography lesson. Scheets Hardware was located at 112 W. Pine where Ream’s Optometry is today.) Daddy stood and said, “Gentlemen, I propose this: I plan to build a 25 x 84 foot building, with an eight-inch concrete floor. I want to complete the floor in one day, in order to prevent cracking of the concrete. If you businessmen will help me mix, pour and spread the concrete, the building will be available for the Jersey Parish Show, at no charge to the Chamber.” The chamber members agreed to his proposal. Daddy, the late Columbus Tuttle who had just moved back to Houston and was hired to build the warehouse, and the late Afton Schindler, started work at 6 a.m. As the day went on, merchants, lawyers, bankers, etc. showed up, mixed, poured and spread concrete, working side by side in a show of community effort and dedication. Daddy, Tuttle and Schindler worked until midnight, but the floor was poured. Today the two-story building still stands across the alley behind Ream’s Optometry and Rees Oil. Daddy later built and installed an elevator to move freight and supplies between the two floors. Daddy clearly remembers and appreciates the day the Houston chamber members rolled up their sleeves and helped.
After becoming a John Deere dealer in the 1940s and continuing through the early 60s, daddy sponsored an annual John Deere Day. He rented the Melba Theater on Grand Avenue just north of the funeral home and provided free movies for area farmers and their families. Everyone received free John Deere bullet pencils and/or pocket ledgers and door prizes were awarded. John Deere representatives attended, and daddy parked the newest John Deere tractors and equipment on Grand Avenue. No doubt for many of these farm families, this free film was a treat they could seldom afford. Daddy remembers that Buster Keaton was probably the most entertaining star of the movies he showed.
In the fall of 1959, Daddy’s inventory of chain saws was too low. As a result of a call to his supplier, Crowell Distributing Co. in Osage Beach, he arranged for what is believed to be the first commercial air freight delivery to Houston. One hundred minutes after placing the phone call, Crowell Distributing’s plane landed at the Houston airport, and within 10 minutes daddy had moved the saws to the store and delivered several to waiting customers. He calculated that the freight cost was significantly cheaper and the normal delivery time by truck would have taken four to five days.
In 1978, daddy and mother sold the hardware business to Debo McKinney. Also in 1978, daddy and mother sold the small engine business to their daughter and son-in-law, Ila Jean and Earl Farris. That business was named Farris Sales and Service, and Earl operated that business until 2002 when they sold out.
After selling the business in 1978, mother and daddy wintered in Texas for 22 years. But they didn’t quit. They both stayed active in church, both in Texas and in Houston, and other organizations. Daddy worked for a while on a farm for a good friend, the late Ansel Coats. When he was 85, he was hired for the summer on the Green Thumb program, which is designed for much younger retirees! The three employees worked for the Forest Service, building fences, cutting brush. One day, daddy’s supervisor called him aside and told him he needed to slow down because he was making the younger employees look bad! We doubt he did. Daddy has always said, “he would rather wear out than rust out.”
When daddy was hospitalized with pneumonia this past January, a local businessman and his wife, who shall remain unnamed, stopped to visit him. During the visit, he turned to me and said, “When I first came to this community, I found construction jobs, but I had no equipment and no money. I shared my problem with others who told me, ‘Go see Ted Scheets. He’ll let you have tools on credit.’ ” He continued, “You have no idea how many times I have been conversing with people, told them that story, and others in the group have told me that Ted Scheets also helped them get started.” Daddy is probably embarrassed that we are sharing that with you.
Two things we regret this evening. If mother were still living, she would be so proud because she was daddy’s biggest supporter for 67-1/2 years. We’re also sorry that only a few of the family are able to be with him tonight. Daddy has a total of 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild. Even though they aren’t all able to be here, they are all very proud of him. By the way, save the date. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, Daddy’s 100th birthday party will be at the Houston First Christian Church. All of you are invited.
Thank you, daddy. The Missouri House of Representatives resolution awarded to you last year was impressive. The recognition from the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce this evening is wonderful. Your accomplishments are commendable, and we are proud of you. But your Christian witness, your personal integrity and your willingness to serve others is the most precious heritage you could give us. Thank you.
And once again, to the chamber, thank you for honoring daddy this evening, and thank you for all you do to make Houston a better place to live.