Back on Oct.16, 2024, we had a beautiful young lady speak to our Kiwanis Club that brought back a ton of good memories for me. Her name is Jessica Clawson, and she is the Executive Director of the United Way of Central Arkansas. As I listened to her presentation that day, my mind took me back to my younger days when I was a printing salesman in Little Rock. I had just been hired by the late Bert Parke, President of Democrat Printing & Lithograph Company, to sell printing and office supplies, and he was very active in the business community.

          For some reason Bert took a liking to me, and began to promote me in several Little Rock business organizations. This was back in 1968 and 1969, and during this time I was named chairman of the Diamond Club, a membership sales organization of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. I also served two terms on the Pulaski County Quorum Court and was chairman of the Speakers Bureau of the Pulaski County United Way. I was also active in a local church. To prepare for some of these duties, I had recently taken the Dale Carnegie Course.

          As I thought about what Jessica was saying, I realized I probably would not be sitting there were it not for her organization. As chairman of the United Way Speaker’s Bureau, it was my duty to assign speakers to speak to various business organizations around town, as well as me speaking to some of these organizations. It was a great experience due to the diversity of the various groups I was privileged to visit. I remember speaking to a group of employees of a trucking company in the back of an 18- wheeler, all the employees for the Arkansas State Highway Department, all the executive personnel for the Baptist Hospital, and dozens more.

          Another part of my duties was serving as Master of Ceremonies for the monthly reporting meetings to fire everyone up and give a report on how well the campaign was doing in terms of reaching our goals. One monthly reporting session was special, as we learned that singer Loretta Lynn was in the area and would come to our meeting. We made special preparations and even had Arkansas Secretary of State Kelly Bryant prepare an “Arkansas Traveler” certificate to present to her. She was running late, and Kelly and I had to fill about 20 minutes of time, mostly telling jokes. We finally dismissed the crowd, and then Loretta made it.

          Needless to say, all this experience was very helpful, because in a couple of years my Dale Carnegie instructor, the late Bob Gannaway, came to me and invited me to go into business with him to distribute the Earl Nightingale Attitude Motivation Programs. This began a 50-year career that has been such a blessing. What memories. After the meeting I went up to Jessica and told her the highlights of what I have just shared. I just happened to have a $100 bill in my wallet, and I pulled it out and gave it to her. To be sure, I have a very grateful heart.

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(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. For a personalized copy of “Keep Your Fork” send $25, which includes postage and handling and tax, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)