In loving, living memory, John Melançon 1928 – 2007
spoken 2001 January 7, Sunday
“
never afraid to acknowledge what I don’t know
ask anyone if they know how to do something, even a six year old child
as long as what needs to be done gets done, it doesn’t have to have my fingerprints on it
leader - knowing what you do not know
running a business for the community down south
at a very young age
it didn’t seem like much at the time, but looking back on it it was pretty amazing
taking people of all different backgrounds
making it work together
four years
applied for a job afterward
I can’t even remember what company it was
the man interviewing me was very impressed
was a shoo-in
all that was left was to talk to the head man
he took an instant dislike to me because of the work I had done in Georgia
he started a lecture on ‘no idealism here, this is business, it is different, it’s tough’
all I said was I think you’re wrong
enraged
it was unfortunate - it soured me on the idea of ‘making it’ within the establishment
I think that has changed now - sad that you have to wait your whole life for stupidity to change
I took other jobs. waiter, what I knew from when I was a kid
I had the respect of everyone I ever worked for, worked with.
”