DeGroff's Super Salesman

Dapper Joe Uhrich (in his Western Attire from DeGroffs), Accepting a cake from (a young) Walt Sehnert, marking the Opening of the Red Willow County Fair. (File photo)

(Note: Recently, the picture in this story was sent to us by one of Joe Urhich's daughters, prompting a look back at one of McCook's long cherished businesses, and one of the fellows who did his part in making McCook such a special place to live.) from Gazette Archives

For most of the 20th Century, DeGroff's Store, on the corner of Norris & B, was McCook's Department Store. The store was opened in 1890, as the J.C. Allen Store. In 1896, Louis Suess, who had been retained as manager of the firm acquired the interests of DeGroff and Weller, the previous owners, but retained the name of DeGroffs for the business.

Under that name the firm sold general merchandise, groceries, clothing, and appliances at various times over the years. In 1943 Mr. Suess passed away. For two years Suess's widow, Ethel, and her brother, Howard Oyster assumed management of the store. Then, in 1945, Eleanor, the daughter of Louis and Ethel Suess, returned from Alabama with her husband, John T. Harris, to take over active management of the store. Subsequently, the Harris family operated the DeGroff Store, a magnet, old fashioned department store in SW Nebr. and NW Kans., until the store closed in 1996, after 106 years of business.

Until 1908 DeGroff's did business out of two stores, side by side. One store, C.L. DeGroff Cash Bargain House, sold General Merchandise and groceries. The other, known as DeGroff Clothing, sold men's and women's apparel. In 1908 Mr. Suess built a modern, 50-foot front building -- a two-story structure, which still stands at the Norris and B Street location. The construction of that building took the greater part of a year to complete. During that time, Mr. Suess simply moved both structures to the street, one on Main St., the other on B. St. and business continued unabated. Traffic simply moved around those buildings. Apparently the city fathers were so glad to have the addition of a fine new business place that they agreed to this unusual arrangement. (And to think that we have complained about the inconvenience we've suffered with the B. St. Highway Construction project this summer.)

By the time our family moved to McCook, in 1957, the DeGroff Store had gotten out of the large appliance business and groceries, and specialized in clothing -- ready to wear apparel for men and women, shoes, yard goods material for the seamstress, and the like. DeGroffs had acquired the building to the south, the old Jennings & Robb Hardware Store, and had turned that into a very complete Men's Ready to Wear Store.

It was always fun to visit DeGroffs Store -- so many departments. On the second floor they had a fine display of items that could be redeemed with Green Stamps -- sort of a wishing place, where all the items were free (if you waited long enough and saved your Green Stamps).

At Christmas time the lower level of DeGroffs was a favorite place for our children. Magically, that space was transformed into a Holiday Wonderland, with a toy display second to none in this area. Our girls could spend hours there, looking over the vast array of toys. For some years Mr. H.G. Hughes held court there, at Christmas time, as a jolly Santa Claus, and duly took note of the Christmas requests of area youngsters.

The first time I visited DeGroffs Store I was with my wife and we needed to buy a Baby Gift for a friend. We hadn't been in town very long and knew very few people. I was surprised to hear a voice booming out from across the store, "Hello Walt Sehnert, welcome to McCook!"

That was Joe Uhrich, whom I'd never met. Somehow, he'd found out who I was and made it a point to greet me personally. (I learned later that Joe knew everyone.) He was very cordial, and made a fuss over our two little girls. Then he invited me to cross the store with him -- he wanted me to see his department, the men's department -- the finest in SW Nebraska he modestly proclaimed. Before I left the store that day, I'd bought a new shirt, a tie, and two pair of socks. It's funny, I had not set out to buy anything for myself. I never even knew I needed those things.

For 55 of the 106 years that DeGroffs was in business, Joe Uhrich was a fixture in that store. He grew up on a farm southwest of McCook. In those difficult days of the Depression, Joe went to work right out of the 8th grade. After a time of working out on area farms, Joe decided that he wanted something different, and applied for a position in DeGroff's Store. Louis Suess was sympathetic, but had to tell Joe that he had no positions available. That might have finished the matter for most people, but not Joe. Joe was persistent, a trait that would become quite apparent in the years to come. "Mr. Suess, you don't have to pay me, just see what I can do!" And that was the arrangement that the two made. Joe proved to be a good worker -- constantly busy doing something, sweeping the floor, keeping the merchandise neat, learning about selling from the other clerks. From the very first Mr. Suess decided that Joe deserved a paycheck.

Over time Joe became a super salesman for DeGroffs. He knew his merchandise, and regularly attended the trade show in Kansas City. His Western Wear section was considered tops in the area. He loved to sell, and carried the concept of suggestive selling to new levels.

Typical was a quote from McCook's Dr. Batty, "I went into DeGroffs to buy a suit and Joe sold me two suits." One fellow, perhaps exaggerating slightly said that he went into DeGroffs to buy a pair of shoe-strings and ended up buying a suit, with underwear, socks, a belt, and shirt and tie to match. Joe liked to take a suit, which a customer was considering, along with the customer, out on the sidewalk, so he could "See how good it looks in natural light."

Few people took Joe's methods as "high pressure." He was so sincere that if "Joe says that suit makes me look good, I know it's true." Mothers trusted Joe's judgment in assisting their sons in the great decision of buying that first new suit of clothes.

J.T. Harris tells one story about Joe's selling. When a veteran returned from active service he went into DeGroffs to buy a sports coat. Joe measured him, and helped the fellow narrow his choices to three coats. He carefully spread them on the racks so that the fellow could make his pick. After considering for a moment the fellow said, "I think I'll take all three."

Most salesmen would be delighted with such a response. Not Joe. J.T. said that Joe's jaw dropped and he looked as if he were going to cry. Later J.T. asked about his reaction. Said Joe, "I should have laid out five coats for his consideration."

Joe was a dapper little man, bald headed, but always very well dressed -- a walking advertisement for DeGroff's Mens Dept. He was very active in community affairs. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and had originally helped organize the pancake dinners the club sponsors on the first day of hunting season. His Kiwanis programs on his trips to Russia (to trace his Germans from Russia roots) were well accepted. Joe was critical of the name, "German Heritage Days."

He thought the name should be "Germans From Russia Days."

Joe and his wife were the parents of two girls, so naturally Joe became active in the Girl Scouts. He was the sponsor of many of the girls' activities, especially the Foot Frolics event at the auditorium, a very active event, lots of fun for both the girls and their dads. Those dances were very spirited, and no one had more fun than Joe. All of his work with the GSA resulted in Joe's being named an "Honorary Girl Scout" by the local organization.

Much of Joe's community work was unsung. He regularly walked to work, and often carried a bag into which he deposited litter from the sidewalk. In retirement, Joe frequently picked up a cake or donuts at the bakery, which he delivered to the men at the Fire Department in thanks for their service to the community.

Joe had a long list of elderly men and women for whom he took responsibility to see that they were well, picked up their mail, and took them for Sunday afternoon rides in the country. To have Joe stop by, with his chipper spirit, brightened many a day for a good many old friends.

McCook has missed Joe. It is said that nothing happens until somebody sells something. If so, then Joe represented the best of both worlds, a super salesman who gave back to the people of his community, for whom he cared deeply.