Paul & Katie Grisham - Extraordinary Leaders

 

Paul and Katie Grisham. 

Photo contributed by

  
Paula Walls  

 

Written by 
LeRoy Walls 
CEO 

PRESENTED TO PAUL & KATIE

From the time Paul Grisham could walk he began helping out in Grisham’s Elk Creek Store. This was owned and operated by his parents, Dick (R.B.) and Bessie Grisham.

After Paul married Katie Walker and completed his army service they bought and operated Grisham’s Elk Creek General Store. In 1949 when Cabool was expanding rapidly they sold their first store and bought “The House of Bargains” store on Main Street in Cabool. Later they operated “Grisham Furniture” and then “Grisham Insurance Agency.” After retirement they operated “Grisham Save-a-lot Grocery” and then developed “Grisham Shopping Center.”

Paul was a key leader in bringing the shoe factory to Cabool. The shoe factory was built in 1955 and employed hundreds of Cabool people for over 40 years.

Paul and Katie were also involved in successfully bringing a swimming pool to Cabool and locating Wedgewood Country Club near Cabool to serve the Cabool and Mountain Grove communities.

In the poem “If I had my life to live over” by Nadine Stair it opens with: I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. It goes on to say, I would take more chances.

I don’t know about the mistakes, but Paul and Katie have certainly taken their share of chances. Some of these are:

  • Owned their own business - six to be specific!
  • Started two of these businesses after the typical retirement age.
  • Tried to bring a second bank to Cabool.
  • Ran for public office.
  • Invested money in a friend’s business.

Besides the above chances, they regularly trusted and believed the best about people. Paul often had too big a heart for his own financial best interest. As a Main Street Cabool merchant, Paul extended credit to almost everyone he knew that needed it - which during the droughts in the 1950’s and during other hard times - there were plenty of people who needed credit. Some would pay him back in cash or potatoes, canned good, berries or fruit but quite often they unfortunately didn’t pay him back at all.

The “If I had my life to live over” poem ends with the statements: I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Paul and Katie did more than their share of dancing and I know that Katie sure loves daisies.

I don’t know about their merry-go-round riding but I’m sure proud of their community service and of the many goods and services they have provided to our area.

But more than anything I am moved by their belief in people and their willingness to take chances in order to bring a better life to those of us living in Cabool, Missouri.

Their three children, Paula, Samantha and R.B. are following in Paul and Katie’s footsteps of being involved in their respective communities and churches. With Paul and Katie as the parents of my wonderful wife Paula, I love them for this greatest of gifts and also admire them for being such extraordinary Cabool leaders.

 

9/27/2000 11:28:49 AM