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There were three main things that influenced my career path. First was my parents example of a strong work ethic, staying focused and working hard at whatever you do. They also gave me a good education of money management. I think I also got from them my ability to communicate with people, sell and do things with a passion.

Then there was the summer vacations to Bisbee, Arizona and spending time with my Grandfather LeRay Brehm who owned Brehm’s Jewelry. I fell in love with the concept of having a business of your own with you being the boss. This really appealed to me.

I guess the third was my size, and eventually the fact that school and I just didn’t get along. I did not complete college, but had the opportunity to do so. All through high school I was very small and short. This gave me the feeling of the underdog and then not graduating from college added to this feeling. This made me work harder to prove I could “do it.”

Al Ring Resume

First “job,” 1958:

Sometime when I was around 14, I started “Al Ring’s Lawn Service”. I really didn’t name it, but each year I cut more and more grass. I remember Mom having to take me to some places to cut grass, and riding my bike as well as me driving to other places. This means I started before I got my drivers license. I used to get $2.00 for our grass, $5.00 for the Shelburn’s at the end of the street, $5.00 for the Doll’s next door, and $7.00 for the Burns, at the corner of the neighborhood. I think I got $3.00 for the Ruston’s. I also cleaned garages and basements, and painted. I remember painting the trim around Shelburn’s garage door when I forgot to bring the paint can down from the ladder before I moved it. I wore the paint home. I made real good money cutting grass. I also met a landscaper & yard handyman and helped him for awhile. I remember being at homes along Alta Vista (real expensive and exclusive area) trimming huge trees and cutting bushes, etc. He really worked me, but I learned a lot. This gave me a freedom many did not have because I had my own money, saving part but being able to get what I wanted.

General Electric Company, February 2, 1962 to September 2, 1962:

I started at General Electric in building #5. I worked on a push pull line in refrigeration. My first day (Thursday) the foreman told me my job would not be ready until Monday, but if I didn’t mind sweeping up I could work that day and Friday. I thought this was great. My union steward came up later took my broom and broke it and gave it back to the foreman. I was an assembler not a sweeper. I went home at noon and didn’t work Friday. The union steward also pointed to the gangway above and said the last person who didn’t join the union had a hammer fall from up there and got hurt real bad. Nice guy.

February 18, 1962 My first pay check from General Electric. Forty hours gross pay of $94.91 or $2.37 per hour, my net pay was $71.75. It appears I was raised to $2.48 per hour. September 2, 1962 My last pay check from General Electric I was making $2.58 per hour. Looking back at the pay stubs, I remember, many weeks that we missed several days of work because union members would sabotage the paint booths by putting sugar in the big tubs. This would force the push pull line to shut down for from one to three days. I would guess that more than half the time I worked there I worked less than 40 hours per week. This was a real education.

Minnish & Potts Florist, December 1962:

I worked for two weeks delivering flowers for Minnish & Potts Florists. I learned how to make flower arrangements doing this. Every time I went around a turn in the truck the arrangements would fall over. When I got ready to take them to the door, I had to rebuild most of the arrangements. I also was attacked by many dogs, the little one’s being the most vicious. Although, I remember one lady way up of Mocking Bird Valley Road, (driveway 1/2 miles long) telling me her dog would not bite. It was the biggest dog I had ever seen and it was dragging the chain and a huge dog house right toward me. I wound up on top of the truck until she got him. Joe & John Potts were good people and later I fought a fire in their business.

Service Station Business, December 16, 1962 to November 3, 1977
Military Service, March 11, 1964 to March 10, 1970

Volunteer Fire Service, 1964 to 1990:

I joined the St. Matthews Volunteer Fire Department in December of 1964, and left the Board of Directors and finished my career in the fire service in 1990. I served as Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain and Major as far as rank was concerned, I also served on the Board of Directors and became Chairman of the Board. During my fire career I also was in charge of the Crusade for Children, Membership/Recruiting, a training officer, fire ground officer, and firefighter. I improved my teaching techniques of which I loved and made numerous life long friends in the fire service. For complete history of the St. Matthews Fire Department see separate section on this web site.

                    Al Ring Automobile Leasing, July 24, 1967 to January 27, 1969

Al Ring Enterprises, June 9, 1971 to December 1971:

This was the Amway business. I tried this but found I could not approach my friends or people I was connected with at the fire department or work. I just wasn’t comfortable. I needed to stay focused on the business I was doing. I lost about $178.45 on this venture but got to keep a lot of good product which I used. l learned many lessons. It was Bob Wunderlich the realtor who sold me my house at 25 Westport Terrace who sponsored me after going to a meeting at Dave Holdaway’s house who leased a truck from me and owned Holdaway’s Drugs.
 

Real Estate & Building Business, November 1, 1977 to June 1998
Retirement, June 1998 (age 55) to 2007