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HILZ FAMILY. W. M. Hilz, Sr. (b. 1900), Mrs. W. M. Hilz, Sr. (b. 1899), George W. Hilz (b. 1924), W. M. Hilz, Jr. (b. 1926), and Sue Hilz (b. 1931)

Oral Histories

OHB 0029

HILZ, W. M., Sr. Founder, City Machine Shop, Pilot Point, Texas, 1928. Family background, education; blacksmithing; making steam engines, cotton boll crushers, gin saws; working in steam and gas engine repair shop during World War I; International Correspondence Schools auto course; founding of City Machine Shop with partner Mike Amon, 1928; evolution of machine shop equipment; Depression; National Recovery Administration; World War II; selling his interest to son George; semi-retirement; financing methods. HILZ, Mrs. W. M., Sr. Wife of founder, City Machine Shop. Family background, education; her community and church work; marriage, family life, rearing nine children. HILZ, George W. Owner and operator of City Machine Shop. Family background; boyhood jobs; work as youth in father’s City Machine Shop; education; military service in World War II; becoming sole owner of City Machine Shop; growth of business; changing services; financing methods; customer problems in small town; satisfactions of self-employment; tenure as Mayor of Pilot Point. HILZ, W. M., Jr. President, Hilz Ford Sales, Pilot Point, Texas. Family background; boyhood chores; work as youth in father’s City Machine Shop; Depression; National Recovery Administration; military service in World War II; education; computing work with Marine Seismic Survey; branch manager for U.S. Electrical Motors; merger with Emerson Electric; decision to quit big company; buying into Ford agency. HILZ, Sue. Founder, accountant, secretary, Hilz Ford Sales. Family background (maiden name Roane), education; marriage and family life; starting Ford agency in husband’s absence; creation of bookkeeping system. HILZ, W. M. and Sue (joint Interview). Goal setting; growth of agency; hard lessons learned; customer credit; small town atmosphere, problems and advantages; relationship with Ford Motor Co.; public tastes in vehicles; cash flow sources; advertising; reasons for success; employee relations; customer problems; incorporation.
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