Choosing to live in a small town is sometimes hard to explain to the city dweller, but Lee Hill's story might be a good example of the reason.
Hill may be the one who carries your grocery packages to the car at Crump's Food Store in Linden.
If he does, you may sense something special. Hill seems to really like his work. It's not pretense. He's not expecting a tip.
You may not know that Hill is an assistant store manager at the store and has more than 30 years experience in food service work. It's his preferred career. He's 48 now, so that means he started right out of high school.
"I began as a stocker and worked my way up," Hill said, adding. "I love my job."
You also will not know he arrives for work an hour early and stays until he's free or no longer needed, however long that is.
His reason for all this is so basic and straightforward that it may be overlooked or disbelieved.
"I wake up every morning and put my feet on the floor, eager to go to work in the grocery store. I look forward to it because there's always something to do, and it's basically about being happy and making people happy. You can do that easily in a grocery store."
Hill feels strongly about this attitude. In fact, he believes a supermarket succeeds or fails because of attitude. One high point of his work experience is a powerful moment when attitude made a big difference for him and his employer.
He had started in 1989 at Crump's Food Store in Lone Star. He was there for 12 years, becoming store manager. Then, the arrival of a larger food store in the area forced a change, and Hill had to find employment elsewhere. For 10 years, he worked at a Vinyard's grocery store in Naples. Then, he had to move again, and it was this move that settled a certain matter for him.
He was hired at another small chain food store, which he prefers not to name, because store owners there were "concerned more with money than customer service," he said.
"One day, I'd had enough. I handed in my store key and walked out then and there. The next day, I put in a call to Crump Food Store owner Chris Spencer."
It took one week to place Hill in the Linden store. That was three years ago. This will be his last move, he said.
"I agree with the way we treat people here," he said. "It's what the owners want, and customers seem to come in with a good attitude. My attitude is that if I can get a smile, it goes a long way."
For the regular record, Hill is a graduate of Jefferson High School, where he enjoyed running track, especially the second leg of the sprint relays. That was his favorite position for a reason that also suits his personality.
"I liked running the second leg because that's the place where you hold your own no matter who or what. That's what I've always enjoyed doing. Holding my place."
Hill is married, and he and his wife Lisa live in Daingerfield and have four children. He attends church.
His presence at the store sets a good example, store owners said.
"He's an example of the importance of having good employees," Spencer said.
It's good for the customer, too, in this respect. You can forget the tip. Hill said he'd just as soon get a smile or handshake.