Thank you, Aberdeen

I have spent my life in Harford County, living the earlier part near Bel Air where I went to high school and graduated.

When I attended University of Baltimore I got a work study scholarship with Western Auto Supply Company, a Kansas City Missouri corporation. After graduation and a short stint of management employment with them I purchased (mostly borrowed money) a franchise and opened my first store in Perry Hall in Baltimore County.

This was a new store and location which required some time to achieve a reasonable market share. Some forty plus years ago I purchased the existing Western Auto store in Aberdeen. This was a very modest operation which after some growth brought about a purchase of land at the corner of Bel Air Avenue and Rogers Street where upon I built a very modern state of the art automotive parts, tire and battery, and service center. In fairly short order I had the number one Western Auto franchise in the USA.

This success led to being asked to serve as an advisor to their corporate board. All of this personal success came as a result of the great support I earned from the Aberdeen community. Without those many loyal customers, this would not have been possible. I am so deeply grateful and appreciative for these many years of support. Thank You, Thank You Aberdeen.

Since selling my business, I have busied myself acquiring rundown buildings and sites and either redeveloping them or building new buildings. As you spend time in or driving through Aberdeen, I hope you recognize the results of my labors.

Here are some of those projects.

• The building east of the post office that housed Aberdeen Stationery.
• The former police station at the corner of Bel Air Ave and Parke St containing six new enterprises.
•  The former location of Michael's Food Rite and A&P now occupied by Key Point Health and All Access Fitness.
•  The new Johnson Family Pharmacy on W. Bel Air Ave
• The old town shop on Market Street which now houses offices and a day care center.
• The former Bavarian Inn on the corner of S. Philadelphia Blvd and Market Street; home to a mixture of public service businesses.
• The old Colonel's Choice Restaurant and adjoining properties now home to ten businesses.
•  I’ve just moved my office to 3 S. Rogers Street; a hundred year old, long vacated home that I restored.

I have truly enjoyed redeveloping these sites which now are home to over 250 jobs.  Again, thank you Aberdeen for your continued support and love.