What Was Your First Boss Like

Other than odd jobs, or “working” for my parents, or self-employed, would say Dick Smith (real name), the owner of Stagecoach West, a steak house once at 3534 East Speedway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona.

“This Self-Service establishment designed to give you the best possible product at the lowest possible cost. You are the server! No tipping!” Examples from the menu…

Small Green salad…. .19

French fries…………. .20

Sizzlin’ Top Sirloin… 1.39

Hamburger………….. .44

Hot Apple Pie………. .24

Day one, as the busboy, I earned $.90 an hour. Day two promoted to dishwasher and given a raise to $1.00 an hour. Within two weeks promoted to assistant cook earning $1.25 an hour and at that point the time line and raises become fuzzy. After several years ran the place, which included all the cooking responsibility and prep work. Dick Smith, or occasionally his son, would stop by once a day to collect the bank deposit and cut steaks, a job I would do as needed. At the end, I was making $90.00 a week.

Then they hired some girl, loved to talk, to work as a hostess named Norma, that is another story.

What about my first boss? He treated me well. When in the building always pleasant. If something was out of order, these employees gently corrected. He never yelled and never reprimand an employee in public. He was always willing to share his knowledge of restaurant management, cooking and butchering meat, and willing to step in and help when needed. When I was first promoted to the head cooking position, he would come into the kitchen, get his apron and cook through the rush, sharing how to cook, the art of short order cooking.

His wedding gift, recommend me to the manager at the Walgreen Grill up the road, as the Assistant Manager where I would earn $100.00 a week. His last words of advice, “If they ask if you can flip eggs in an egg pan, say yes.”

Got an interview, can you flip and egg using an egg pan, sure, hired, and moved on?

Never saw Mr. Smith again, and soon after sold his property to Quebedeaux Pontiac, where I bought my first car. Another story.