MY FIRST JOB

TRIVIA QUESTION

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB OUT OF SCHOOL? AND WHAT VALUABLE LESSON DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?

These jobs were the beginning of my character building, listening/conversational skills and how to get along with/respect others. I learned to handle issues/speak with customers from all walks of life, income levels, job, status, varied personal hygiene personal hygiene levels, ethnicity and race...I eventually developed customer service/people skills that were priceless and have lasted a lifetime.

this could be a lot of fun. Send to MindenMemories@aol.com 

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I remember Mr. Will Life giving me a great job at Webb Hardware for 55 cents/hour in 1965 and I was extremely happy with that, but perhaps the greatest job was being  a teacher for Head Start.In 1969 I was a 22 y.o. white male with a class of 5 year old black children and it was a good experience for me and I hope it was for the children as many had seldom seen a white male face up close.
 
Thanks,
Tom Carey
Ruston
MHS 1965

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My first "temporary" job was at Kennon's grocery on front street.  I pretty much did what I was told, which usually was restocking shelves and delivery.  For a summer job, I later  worked for the Webster Parish School Board doing what ever was needed.  We build rooms at schools, poured concrete, reroofed school buildings, hauled dismantled barracks, cleaned septic tanks (whew!), any and everything.   The pay was great, $.75 and hour.  The picture is about 1947 of me, J. W. Beck and another boy that I can't recall.  We hauled coal to a school one year for them to use for heat.  The next year we reloaded the coal because the school had installed natural gas .  What a dirty job!  I would always take a dip in the bayou after work to get rid of most of the coal dust.  My first "real" job was in New Orleans with the Louisiana Rating & Fire Prevention Bureau.
 
Maurice Whitlow, Class of 1948

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My first job was Neta" A&W Rootbeer located across from the Joy Drive In. (car hop)
Ronnie Hennigan, Class of 1961
 
I think Charles T Hennigan" first job was at Samuels Water Melon stand located by Samuels store near Oak Ridge. Charlie graduated in 1953.

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My first job out of school was with the Minden Press-Herald.  I was hired by the then owner, Mr. Richard Hill,  to be the receptionist and the classified ad person.  Mr. Hill's wife also worked at the newspaper, and both she and her husband were really nice people to work for.  This was my first ever experience working at a real job, and one of the most valuable lessons that I learned was that the customer is always right.
 
Barbara (Logan) Colley, class of '65
 
"Keep it Clean!"

Barbara Colley
www.barbaracolley.com
WASH AND DIE, now available in paperback
Coming January 2010 -- DUSTED TO DEATH

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My first job out of high school was with Gray-Connell Insurance, which was located on the corner of Main Street just as you enter town where Argent Financial is now located.  Across the street was Fort's Newsstand.  I was secretary to Tinsley Connell, and he is one of the finest men I've ever known.  He was what I considered an "old" bachelor at the time, but he married sometime after I married and moved away.  He was probably the first adult who really treated me as an equal and who I considered a friend, even though he was also my boss.  When the 'hot tamale man' came down the street, ringing his bell, Mr. Connell would open the door and beckon to him.  He'd buy tamales, and the two of us would stand at the counter and eat them.  I had planned to work for him 'forever', but made a last-minute decision to go to LA Tech instead. 
Earlene Mendenhall Lyle, Class of 1956

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My first job out of school was at Lafayette Charity Hospital.  I was the only RN on a ward of 40 male surgical patients.  I learned that the orderly, Murphy, was my best friend.  I always respected my coworkers since then.  I also learned how to speak Cajun French. And how to REALLY WORK HARD.  Been doing it and loving it ever since. 

Eve Baskerville, RN, FNP -BC (Class of 1964)

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MY FIRST JOB

The main store that I remember is, or was, Samuel's Grocery.near Oak Ridge.
  
First job?  Went into USAF pilot training after La. Tech, in April of 1962.   Flew with one of the most unique squadrons in the Air Force, the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron.  The mission was to re-supply two Greenland DEWLINE radar sites way out on the Ice Cap.  The C-130's  had skis for use on the snow.   More may be perused here -- www.firebirds.org   There are photos, anecdotes, newspaper articles, squadron history from WWII, on....

Nolan Bailey, Ridin' the range in Rowlett, Texas ...Class of 1957 

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My first job out of high school was joining the US Air Force after two wasted years in college.
 
Lesson learned:  Never volunteer for anything!

 
Regards,
 
Wayne Ellis, Class of 1970

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Well, my first job was at the Webster Parish Library. I worked on
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5-8PM and on Saturdays
from 8-5. I guess the biggest lesson I learned from that job was how to
better handle the public, which has definitely helped me in all other
roles since then. There would be all different types of people coming
in, and we were expected to serve them - no matter who they were or what
they needed. I really enjoyed the time there. It was a great job, and
the people that I worked with were wonderful. I still have fond memories
of my work there.
Thanks for the opportunity to share...
Terri

Dr. Terri Hebert
Assistant Professor
Department of Teaching, Learning, and Technology
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey
Mashburn 112
Conway AR 72035

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