The Salesman
Larry Ron Gandy was born in McCamey, Texas, in 1938 as there was no hospital in Kermit, Texas where his parents lived…his birth was quite an event as Larry had a twin, Jerry. In those days twins were not often seen. Larry’s Dad grew up, one of twelve, in Breckenridge, Texas where the family worked in the oil fields and farmed. His dad was working as a truck driver in 1933 when he met Larry’s mom. They fell in love and married in Breckenridge, Texas, where Larry and Judy would repeat their vows 28 years later.
At the time Larry was born, his dad was working in waterflooding old oil fields around Kermit. Larry had an older brother, Gary, his younger twin, Jerry, and later gained another younger brother, Mickey. In Olney, we called them the Gandys.
The Gandys moved to Olney in 1942. Larry’s dad was hired by Reno Oil to waterflood oil leases around Olney. The company bought an old ranch house from over near Anarene, Texas for the Gandys and moved it to the far north part of Olney where it was surrounded by pasture, sitting alone for some years. The house was built with solid wood walls and doors. Larry and his brothers were taken to First Baptist Church of Olney and began attending Olney public schools. Larry became a Christian and a member of the Church in 1949 and was baptized by Cort Flint. Larry’s mom sang in the church choir and sat her four boys on the front pew right by the organ. She dressed her little boys carefully and their white shoes were always polished. One glance from her would cease all movement and talking among the Gandys.
Larry’s first job was as a paperboy where he had to acquire his customers and learned to be a salesman. The Fort Worth Press rewarded him for having the largest route with a trip to Galveston, Texas by train. Larry’s new bicycle, with his paper bags, was parked in front of Olney Elementary School and blew away in the 1952 tornado. He bought an old bike for five dollars, along with new paper bags and went back to delivering his papers.
There was lots of laughter at the Gandy home. Their friends gathered there and felt welcome. Larry grew up in the 1950s. The men worked and the women stayed at home with the children, cooked and sewed. The women dressed the family as well as possible when they went out of the home. The women wore hats and gloves with their dresses. The manners of the children reflected on the family. Larry’s parents adhered to this tradition.
Larry went to work for Bruce and Sallie Sue Bushy when he was in the eighth grade, sweeping and doing general clean up at Bushy’s Department Store on Main Street in Olney. This became a lifelong relationship. Larry became like a son to the couple, as they were childless. This couple built a home on Main Street that would later become the First Baptist Church parsonage.
One day, Larry asked Mr. Bushy what he needed to do next. He was told to go home and when he returned the next day he should find something to do. Larry never again asked what he should do. Thus began Larry’s career in retail. Larry soon was on the floor with customers and doing in-store and window displays. He went to market in Dallas, Texas with the Busheys in 1960. The Apparel Mart had not yet been built. Larry worked for them until he graduated from high school.
While he was in high school, Larry entered into the contest to become a cheerleader. As it was done in those days, he was elected by the student body. Larry also joined the Marine Reserves and served his country.
Larry’s dad bought a farm northeast of Olney and the boys helped with the plowing and the cattle.
After graduation, Larry attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Mr. Bushy helped Larry get a job at JCPenney. Larry later transferred to Lubbock Christian College, getting his Associate’s Degree.
Larry came back to Olney to work for Mr Bushy for a short time after Sallie Sue died and he became ill. When Mr. Bushy recovered, Larry was hired by JCPenney, with the help of Mr. Bushy, to move to Levelland, Texas, and work as the assistant manager. It was a sad time for Larry when Mr Bushy died.
While there, he met a girl named Judy Clinesmith who was a college student and also was working at Penney’s. They worked together for almost a year but only dated for three months before becoming engaged. They eloped on New Year’s Day, 1961, going to Breckenridge. They were married by Richard Lewis, who pastored a Church there and had grown up in Olney. Judy became Larry’s helpmeet and partner.
As Larry’s career in retail developed, his pay scale climbed steadily. Most of the 1960s were spent in Vernon, Texas where Larry managed Perkins-Timberlake Department Store. Judy was a stay-at -home mom raising their two small children, Kip and Leanne. Soon, he moved his family to Corsicana, Texas, to manage the JM Dyer department store. They joined First Baptist Church, Corsicana. Larry became a member of the church choir. They met Mrs. Thelma Caskey. Judy served with her in teaching and ministering to a freshman girls’ Sunday school class. Some of these girls were living at the Corsicana State Home. Later in life, they learned that Mrs. Caskey’s daughter, Jan, had married Al Myers and was living in Olney.
Larry and his family lived in several towns and houses. They always enjoyed changing and redecorating these houses together.
Larry was always alert to job openings in retail. He secured a management position in Denison, Texas for Lilley’s Department Store. The children were enrolled in school and would graduate from high school there, later attending college and marrying in Denison.
Denison was a pretty and pleasant place to live and raise children. The Katy Railroad was a large part of the growth of Denison and as the railroad flourished so did the town. The depot in Denison was built during the golden age of railroads.
Larry and Judy joined Parkside Baptist Church. Larry sang in the choir while Judy worked in Sunday school and vacation bible school. Larry affiliated with civic clubs and served as president of the Retail Merchants and the Lions Club.
They met Greg Johnson and Laura Hyatt, along with their families at this church. Their daughter became friends with Laura and she stayed with them several months before her marriage, as her parents had moved to another town. Greg and Laura would marry and some years later move to Olney, as Greg pastored First Baptist Church of Olney.
Larry and Judy prospered as a family, staying busy with the store and civic duties, going to market in Dallas and the activities of church and children.
Larry and Judy were always mindful of helping their parents. They traveled to Olney a lot, helping out at the farm and gathering at the Gandy home, where all the boys came and brought the next generation of Gandys. After Judy’s dad died, her mom came to live with them.
Lilley’s was in competition with Newsom’s Women’s Wear, an upscale dress shop owned by a very well-to-do man, Mr L. M. Newsom. Mr. Newsom offered Larry a job. Larry told him he doubted that the pay scale could be met. Larry was told that he could if he wanted to. Larry and Judy became his business partners.
Larry and Judy added other lines of clothing and decor. They also offered monogramming. By this time, the children were old enough to participate in the business and go to the Apparel Mart in Dallas. Sometimes their daughter would procure a job there for a weekend.
Larry and Judy built and decorated two lovely homes in Denison. Larry learned to build furniture under the excellent instructions of the woodworking class offered in Olney High School. He also restored antique pieces, including an ice box, a weathervane and a glass door push, also a pair of old sconces and some solid wooden doors. Judy worked with Larry and he was very attentive to what she liked. With all their talents, they always created pleasant places for themselves and for their family’s time together, places of safety and laughter, wonderful food and concern for each other.
There was a mall between Denison and Sherman, and then another mall and soon small discount stores started appearing. Then the giant discount store came to the area. The Savings & Loan crisis crippled many businesses and then the Katy Roundhouse closed. Losing the presence of the railroad caused a major business downturn in Denison and the citizens faced many challenges.
Larry sold the store and the building, buying a photography shop and the building that housed it. The elderly photographer taught Larry the techniques of the business. They also offered picture framing and monogramming. Together, Larry and Judy tended the shop, living in the second story. As always, they decorated their living space.
Larry’s parents had passed away but the Gandys had kept the home in Olney where they had grown up, for family gatherings.
Larry and Judy sold the photography shop, bought his brother’s parts of the house and they moved back to Olney. They joined Larry’s home church and Larry has sung in the choir on occasion.
Larry’s salesmanship was used once again when he and Judy sold map posters of regional businesses and then opened their restaurant, Gandy’s Chicken & Bar-B-Q This restaurant became very popular among Olneyites and was renowned for the chicken fried steak - so much so that they were written up in the Texas Highways magazine.
They were recognized as Business of the Year. Larry was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and served on the Olney City Council. In his own hometown, their restaurant was very successful.
After some good years they sold the restaurant to a niece and nephew, Julie and Dean. The restaurant operated for another nine years. After their retirement from the restaurant, Larry worked part time at the Senior Cub Center, which is a wonderful gathering place for older citizens, delivering 20-30 athome meals daily and driving the Cub Van until the pandemic in 2020. Judy worked as a substitute teacher at Olney High School. Larry and Judy have been married sixty-four years and are now retired, living comfortably in the home that has seen five generations of Gandys celebrating holidays together. They are always decorating, cooking and making the home warm and inviting. The children visit often. Larry has one brother still living. He and his family come when they can.
Larry and Judy have 28 members in their family, and one on the way. Larry was a salesman and he chose a lovely companion. Theirs is an old-fashioned love story. Larry and Judy have wonderful memories and when they talk about their lives together, they look at each other and smile.