Good handwriting lands job, leads to long career at Marshall Municipal Utilities/Writer recalls Leland Yancy, other workers at MMU

The year was 1947 and I had just graduated from Marshall High School. I was 17 years of age, just a country girl, but I needed a job.

We began watching the Democrat-News "Help Wanted" ads. Soon we read a blind ad requesting a written application. Having no idea as to where I was applying for work, I sent in my qualifications.

Soon, I received a letter from Leland Yancey, general manager of Marshall Municipal Utilities, asking me to come in for an interview. Mr. Yancey said they had selected me over older and more experienced applicants because of my hand writing.

The utility building was located on Arrow Street, on the east side of Farmer's Saving Bank, next to the Saline County jail.

To the west was a grocery store and Farmer's Saving Bank located on the corner.

At the time I began work, all the billing was figured and made by hand. Mr. Yancey printed all the customers' names and addresses on the bills, then we girls figured and wrote them out using an old dip type pen.

The adding machines were much different from those today. We had eight thick books to figure. The head bookkeeper always checked the businesses to be sure we were correct.

Sometimes we had to work overtime to get them finished on time. This was fun because we were treated to a restaurant meal for working late.

Extra help was hired for the billing. Cecile Read (who lived on North Odell Avenue next to the car sales) was one who worked about two weeks each month.

Stephen Kersten was head bookkeeper. Hannah Jacobs Moore was cashier. Dorothy White was the bookkeeper responsible for training me and how sweet and patient she was. Henry Hayob was water superintendent and his son, Robert, was head of the Water Treatment Plant at Malta Bend. Hubert Hinton was the superintendent of the electric department.

One of the saddest tragedies that happened while I was there was the tragic death of James "Salty" Hightowee. He fell from a pole while working on a street light just a block off the square. We were all heart-broken. He was such a favorite, always laughing and teasing.

Many books could be written about Leland Yancey. He was a true southern gentleman, always polite and kind.

Sometimes people would come in without enough money to pay their bill. They would ask for him and sometimes he would reach in his pocket and pull out some money and give it to the person. He said they always paid back the loan.

Dr. George Aiken was one of his best friends as well as his doctor. Tut Bellamy was another good friend.

They often came to the office and laughed and talked. Everyone around the square knew and loved Mr. Yancey. He was always buying candy and giving it to someone. Wood & Huston and Farmer's Savings employees received Russell Stovers from him each Christmas.

As a boss, there was never a better one. This was my first employment and what a joy to have the privilege of working for Mr. Yancey.

He was a loyal Methodist and he often teased Marlyn and I as Baptists. He said their church had a mortgage on ours. Franklin Roosevelt was his idol and he was a loyal Democrat.

In the 50s, they decided that it was time to get a billing machine. One had to be specially made because of the two utilities. Many bugs had to be worked out and lots of time we were unhappy with the new system. Very often the company that made the machine had to send their specialist to work through the kinks.

Each week my sister would bring in a crate of eggs and all the employees would buy the eggs. I think they were three dozen for a dollar.

Mr. Yancey and Henry Hayob would come out to our farm and pick gooseberries and black berries. We had an old Canada goose that Mr. Yancey wanted. He talked my mother into giving it to him.

The old goose lived out its life at Mr. Yancey's home on East Arrow.

Dr. Aiken teased him about all the cigars deposited around their favorite tree.

Mr. Yancey was very sad when some little neighbor boys chased his goose to death on a hot summer day.

I worked steadily five years and then decided to go to college and teach. Mr. Yancey still had me work weekends and summers for five more years.

While in college I received letters from the utility band -- Lena Greenhalge, Marly Duffer, Martha Crider, Katherine Leeper, Ruth Schlue, Dorothy Barr and Katie Taaffe.

On May 29, 1958, my friends came to our wedding at First Baptist Church. Mr. Yancey, in his usual style, was there telling Raymond that he had just realized why he was marrying me: he said that whenever it was cold and blustery, Raymond would have me to walk on the north side to block that cold wind.

What a friend -- I could write many more chapters about Leland Yancey.