A gray-haired man, dressed in a business suit, walks toward the dry goods store and opens a car door for a woman laden with packages. Once inside, he greets customers and straightens merchandise.
He grabs a pair of jersey gloves, tries them on and, satisfied, with the quality, hands them back on the rack.
“It’s a matter of pride with us,” said Cal Turner, Sr., founder and board chairman of Dollar General Store Corp.
Turner has spent his life in the retailing business. He opened his first store, J.L. Turner and Sons Dry Goods, in 1939.
“My father and I put in $5,000 apiece. That was out capital, and I don’t mind telling you, we were borrowing money in 60 days.”
Now Dollar General Stores are in 23 states and employ 7,000 people. About 500 people work in the Scottsville Warehouse.
“In the beginning, we sold in units of $1. Two for a dollar, three for a dollar. Everyone thought I was crazy because everything was going to sell for a dollar.”
His wife of 50 years, Katherine, was born in Scottsville.
Both graduated from Scottsville High School. Turner attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville for a year, but then returned to Scottsville. “I was anxious to get back here because a lady was here that I was interested in.”
They were married soon after his return and have raised four children.
The Turners love the city of Scottsville and enjoy living and working there. Katherine said, “Scottsville people are warm, caring, and living. They call it “The Friendly City,” and it is. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
“Cal has said so many times that he feels sorry for people who don’t live in Scottsville.”
He agrees. “Our roots are pretty deep in Scottsville and Allen County,” he said. “Having people know you and knowing them contributes to a better life, I think, I’ve always said that when I get 12 miles outside town, I’m homesick.”
