Interview with Luther Dale Hodge concerning his experiences as supervisor of stores for Duke & Ayres Company in Cameron, Texas. Hodge discusses his family background, farming near Cobb, Oklahoma, his employment at Green Spray Supermarket in Durant, Oklahoma, his employment as a manager trainee at Duke & Ayres in Dallas in 1961, personnel at the Dallas store, his relocation as assistant manager at the Waxahachie store, and the duties of an assistant manager. He also talks about his work as vacation relief manager for stores in Athens, Gainesville, and Denton, Texas and for stores in Idabel, Oklahoma in 1962, his employment as manager of the DeLeon, Texas store in 1962, his relocation to the Cameron, Texas store in 1965, personnel at the Cameron store, the duties of a store manager, his appointment as supervisor of south Texas stores in 1975, the stock-buying options for managers, and supervisors' Saturday meetings at the home office. Hodge shares his views on the management's conservative approach to business, the loss of experienced employees, store closeout procedures, major competitors, the company attitude toward management's involvement in civic activities and church attendance, the sale of company stock to First Southwest Company in 1972, as well as cutting inventory and sales losses in 1979, the collapse of the company, and the effects of minimum wage legislation on store operations.
