They Will Not Depart

 Below is a story about my Dad and a man whom we both had the opportunity to work for together.  There are some scriptures that seemed to be personified by the story; a few Godly points of benefit.

Proverbs 18:24 KJV A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

A Golden Opportunity

Victory of war in 1945 was bitter sweet.  Some soldiers had to assimilate back into civilian life with new challenges from war wounds, lost of sight and loss of limb.  But for the majority, who returned unscathed, it was a new lease on life and a time of revelry greater than the return from the First World War. 

It was in that jubilant time that fourteen year old Ed found his first real job working as an usher at the Mont Clare Theater, in Chicago. In those days, theater owners typically contracted with a food concessions company to run the theater, although they had to directly hire a union motion picture operator to run the film.  The Irving Davis Company hired Ed and he reported to a manager named Paul Wald.  The motion picture industry was booming; Returning "GIs" were getting reacquainted with their sweethearts and all forms of entertainment were in high demand.  With this surge of business the concept of fast food was born out of the theater concessions, and menu options grew beyond candy, popcorn and soda.  Food of all types became a celebration.

Gus the Union Motion Picture Operator in Franklin Park, IL

As he graduated high school, Irving Davis himself took an interest in Ed and made him a manager over all of his theaters after Paul had taken a position with a new company called Federated Vendors.  Fast food was needed in factories in order to keep workers at their peak and close to the assembly lines.  America was in its prime in the 1950s.  Vending machines and Industrial Plant Feeding (cafeteria) grew.  Soon Paul needed an assistant at Federated so he hired Ed away from Irving Davis.

Ed Blake talking with an employee, Phyllis, whom he later married

Together Ed and Paul made a great team; Paul did the purchasing and Ed managed the operations.  Federated Vendors grew by leaps and bounds through the 1950s and merged in 1964 with another company and went public on the New York stock exchange to form Servomation Corporation.  By 1974 they were in all 48 states with over 200 branch offices with 200 warehouses/delivery centers, and regional directors.   The headquarters of the corporation was in New York City but the Purchasing and Accounting Office remained in Chicago as a subsidiary company, Servomation Supply.  Paul was President of Servomation Supply and Ed was V.P. and General Manager. 

It was at this juncture that another fourteen year old kid named Tom found his first real job working for Paul Wald.  Being Ed Blake's son, he had to work twice as hard as anyone else.  That summer he learned everyone's job as he filled in for each person who went on vacation.  Unfortunately anything that Ed couldn't get anyone else to do, Tom got stuck with it.  Of course, Tom is none other than yours truly.

When a new CEO took the reigns of the Corporation in 1975, he moved the entire operation to Greenwich, just out side of New York City across the Connecticut border.  Paul moved with the company, Ed turned down the transfer and left Servomation.  And so after twenty five years of working together, Paul Wald and Ed Blake went separate directions.  Being the stoic pillar of strength, I never saw my father cry, but he must have in some private place cried buckets of tears for a man who had more influence on his life than any other man he ever met.  So Dad; I cry for you and for Mr. Wald for the friendship you lost and honor your entrepreneurial spirit for what you did build!

Mr. Wald retired within five years after moving with the company to Greenwich and my father went on as VP and General Manage of another Chicago based company until he retired and then passed away at age 63.

Psalms 37:23 KJV The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Growing up in a household of faith has to be the greatest of all of my blessings.  The teachings of my youth have shaped my life in the LORD and have brought me to this juncture in life.  My father set an example of Christian dedication, loyalty, the old fashioned hard work value and honesty; these he did in the LORD.  Toward the end of his life, he was a dual career pastor and we had the opportunity to share the same pulpit for five years as associates in pastoral ministry.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

When God calls multiple generations into ministry, the churches that those ministers serve receive an added blessing.  There is a credibility given to the Christian way of life that is beyond words.  A dear pastor friend of mine; shares his pulpit with not only his son, but with his two grandsons as well.  This speaks to the glory of God!

As parents, we are entrusted with God’s children for just a very short time.  Make sure that you do all that is in your power to lead your children to the LORD.  If they are grown; still pray for them and lead by example; always keeping the door open for God to call them through you.  For parents of little children and young couples contemplating a family; realize that there is no greater investment than your children.  Train them up in the LORD and when they are old, they will not depart from it!