twenty years {july 2, 2022}

20 years ago today my dad died from chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was 68 years old when he left this earth. 

With the exception of a few years of service in the U.S. Army, Dad's entire career was with Sears. He began in the management training program and then every 2-3 years was transferred to a different store as he went up the promotion ladder. I went to six different schools with the last move when I was a junior in high school.

This photo was taken in 1985 and has a lot of Sears history in it. Dad is sitting on General Wood's desk. In 1924, Robert E. Wood became vice-president of Sears Roebuck. He became one of the most important leaders in that company's history, serving as president from 1928 until 1939 and as chairman from 1939 until 1954. Under his leadership, Sears shifted the focus of its operations from mail-order sales to retail sales at large urban department stores. Wood also created Allstate Insurance as a subsidiary of Sears. 

The piece of art on the wall shows the first Sears building along with the Sears 

Tower, now a notable silhouette in Chicago's skyline. (FYI, it will always be the Sears

Tower to me. Calling it the Willis Tower doesn't sound right).

A Successful Man

"That man is a success - 
who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
who has gained the respect of intelligent men
and the love of children;
who has filled his niche
and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world better
than he found it;
who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty
or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in others
and gave the best he had.

~ Author Unknown

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Today is the 183rd day of 2022. We are halfway through the year.