The Hardware Man - Influencers
Howdy Folks,
There are some people who cross our paths who have the weird ability to connect and make themselves memorable to you. They may not be a regular part of your daily circle, but when you need someone, they’re always there, always available, and willing to share. I recently lost two people like that. The ones that helped influence me to where I am today.
In my hometown of Zelienople is a small hardware store on Main Street. It’s been there since 1964, when C.T. McCormick opened it. My store in Clintonville mirrors it in many ways – an assortment of everyday hardware tailored to the needs of the community. My dad was a regular there, and my oldest brother spent several years as a teen working there. I had my first ‘real’ job there at the store. C.T. was a kind, low-key, and pleasant fellow, easy to like and trust. As a 14-year-old, I knew little to nothing about retail, much less hardware, but I was exposed to item numbers, customer service, and problem-solving.
I only worked there that one summer, but our interactions were always the same afterwards. A friendly greeting, a little help with finding a solution to my issue, and a line of credit extended because he trusted me. Some of my tendencies at the store stem from him – the psst – “Just take it” when I needed a simple nut. The simple ability to service the customer – he would take them to the two-foot-thick paper Orgill catalog in the back and find what they needed. He knew his store and customers. And I have a certain patience for the young buck working their first job in my store.
C.T officially retired maybe 10 years ago. He passed away on September 23 at the age of 89.
Hillis Kaltenbaugh was an older friend of mine from church. He ran an excavation business and had a wealth of knowledge in systems and processes. In my line of landscaping, I would sometimes get into issues where I needed a second look at a site to help identify problems, and he would do a site visit and offer insight. When I decided to get into snow removal, he ran my route with me and gave pointers on how to best clear an area. He also ran the truck a few times when I was out of town.
Hillis was well known around the area, and our circles would intersect with other people we mutually knew. As always, it’s a small world. His biggest impact was the transformation God made in his life 30 years ago. He was a functioning alcoholic with regrets, but when he gave his life to Christ, the desire for alcohol left him, and he was free from that old life. I only knew him as the new Hillis. He passed away on Friday, of complications from a stroke, but his testimony will live on, to the power of deliverance. He was 74.
We never know what sort of impact we will have on others. Which is why it is important to live our lives with integrity and goodwill. I have known some who lived an empty life only for themselves – I remember them, but not in a positive way. They came, they existed, they are gone and forgotten. Others, even though they weren’t family or closest of friends, still influence us years later due to the lessons they shared in everyday life. Might I live my life in the same manner?
Daniel Karns and his wife own Clintonville Hardware & Rental along with other businesses. Join the discussion by contacting him at info@clintonvillehardware.com.
