entrepreneurship | Oral History

entrepreneurship

OHB 0073

Founder and owner, Nathan’s Jewelers, San Angelo, Texas; and co-owner of Sterling Jewelry & Distributing Company, Dallas and Houston, Texas. Family background; description of fire at Gardner Park, Dallas; employment as secretary for Dallas lawyer Alvin M.

OHB 0058

Founder, W. L. Dinn & Company Insurance, Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas. Family background; work as ranchhand in Live Oak, Texas; employment as bookkeeper in Alice and Corpus Christi; entry into life insurance sales, 1920; land development in Corpus Christi, 1926; growth of insurance company personnel and coverage; description of administrative personnel; civic activities; views on qualities necessary to develop successful business.

OHB 0016

MASSEY, Ezrum. Founder, Denton Roofing and Metal Works. Schooling and early life; construction and other work background; service in Army and sheet metal experiences there; start of partnership in roofing and sheet metal work; equipment and supply problems during World War II; growth of sales, equipment, facilities, employees; methods of financing; problems of finding, training, keeping skilled workers; views on expansion, company success, competition; sale of business to Bomars.

OHB 0033

DAVIS, Anne. Founder (with husband Jack T. Davis) of Davis purity Bakery, Denton, Texas. Family background; Depression; purchase of purity Bakery; early learning experiences; equipment; products; commercial and institutional accounts; business fluctuations; sugar crisis; pricing; typical workday; credit policies.

OHB 0027

Pioneer distributor of automatic gasoline nozzles. Early work experiences in Gordon, Texas; employment with Self Motors in Denton, 1925; experiences as service station owner and operator during the Great Depression; Air Force career; problems of service station business; discovering, entering automatic nozzle business; methods of financing and selling; role of Mrs. Calhoun in the business; entry of Charles Kregel into the business; selling the business.