Floyd Jenkins | Oral History

Floyd Jenkins

OHB 0041

President, Tex-Tan Western Leather Company, Yoakum, Texas. Father’s development of leather tanning business in Yoakum; line of leather products; comments on effects of Depression and World War II on business; tanning processes; saddletree production; sale of business assets, 1956; merger with Tandy Corporation; saddle promotions; expansion into Canada and Mexico; experiences with labor unions in Yoakum; views on pay systems, motivation, and piece work; development of Western Sales stores; retirement.

OHB 0086

Owner and operator, B. F. Warden Grocery Store, Bertram, Texas. Family background; work on family farm in Bertram; educational experiences in Bertram schools; employment as a teller in A. B. McGill’s bank and D. C. Reed’s bank, Bertram;comments concerning D. C.

OHB 0065

One of the founders of Bomber Bait Company, Gainesville, Texas. Family background; farming during Depression in Olton, Texas; employment as a gasoline retailer in Olton and tire repair operator in Gainesville; interest in designing fish baits; development of Bomber Bait Company with Clarence Turbeville; problems obtaining supplies at end of World War II; designing hard baits; expansion of market; sale of company; views on success of Bomber Bait and failures of other bait companies.

OHB 0013

President, Voertman’s Book Store, Denton, Texas. Founding of Voertman’s by his father; early years of store; Depression; opening of store near Texas Woman’s University; effects of North Texas State University opening its own bookstore; education; early work experience; growth in merchandise lines; problems of book business.

OH 0774

Cattle rancher, entrepreneur. His reminiscences and experiences as a long-time rancher and foreman for the Kennedy ranch in South Texas, 1926-88.

OH 0019

Salesman, electric furnace pioneer, corporation founder. Family background; education; rural schoolteacher; salesman of school equipment, electrical appliances; employment with Mathes; building dealerships; development of electric furnace; founding of Electric Products, Inc.; growth and expansion; selling out to Square D Electric.

OHB 0021

Owner and operator of Joe’s Cleaners, Denton, Texas. Family background; early work experiences; education; work as youth in cleaning shop; opening Joe’s Cleaners, 1944; decline of dry cleaning business; his unique credit system; importance of self-employment; other business ventures; dealings with City of Denton; history of his business.

OHB 0025

Banker. Family background; boyhood work experiences; education; first job in banking; rise to bank president; early banking practices, equipment, laws; evolution of banking business; Depression; retirement and move to Denton, Texas, 1951; membership on bank boards; comments on banking in Denton through 1978; other business interests.