Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 42, Ed. 1 Tuesday, April 3, 2007 Page: 4 of 42
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Q Hains Countu Leadcr_______________Tuesday, april 3.2007
Ken Beck’s an average-enough
looking guy' don’t you think9 No
fancy clothes, no diamond ring,
no swanky office - just a man who
was raised with strong Christian
values and a strong work ethic by
grandmother Katie Beck. Who’d
guess he hob-knobbed with Dal-
las Cowboy Coach Tom Landry,
fullback Walt Garrison, basket-
ball-great Steve Nash and Walker,
Texas Ranger Chuck Norris?
Well... maybe hob-knobbed
is not exactly the correct term.
Ken hung draperies in the coach's
and athletes’ houses and redid an
RV for Norris. Saying “Mauve
doesn't match my personality,”
Norris had Ken redo the RV in
leopard skin and get rid of the
pinkish color.
What we have here is a guy
with three passions - business,
business, business. “I’ll do any-
thing to get a customer, and
business has been my life," he
added. Ken’s currently part owner
of Kerr/Beck Builder’s Choice
Blinds. He gives credit for much
of his success to Jim Ken; who
Ken said is a genius at start-
ing businesses and making them
work. While Jim’s not active in
the Emory endeavor, “he sure
wonders what's going on,” Ken
added with a smile.
As a young man Ken worked
as a stock boy in the lampshade
department at what later became
Sangar Harris. That job loot-
bailed him into the custom drap-
ery department and put him in
contact with Jim, who had his
own business.
Becoming close friends and
business partners, the two bought
a little company that made cus-
tom draperies and did upholstery.
In fact, their company made the
drapes that now hang in Emory
Baptist Church. And our guest’s
wife Ruby ran the drapery work-
room. (More about Ruby later.)
At one point Ken had a busi-
ness that most people don’t want:
He redid the insides of RVs. He
explained that they’re difficult to
work on because everything is
bolted down. In order to re-carpet,
one person must be underneath
loosening bolts while another is
inside removing things. "We had
people come from faraway places
because we were specialists," he
said. In fact, a guy from Califor-
K-tWETft*. I
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• SHADE TREES
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• Must meet income guidelines.
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CCS Income Guidelines
Family
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Gross Monthly
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3
$3,362
4
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5
$4,643
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This is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are
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nia came into some money and
bought an expensive new motor
home. Because of Ken's reputa-
tion. the man drove straight to
Mesquite and our guest’s com-
pany revamped it to the tune of
$12,000.
Always one to take on a new
challenge, Ken then began work-
ing with builder Cory Pond with
Builder’s Blinds. Ken shared, “He
was an excellent salesman, and 1
ran the rest of the company."
What started out as a small busi-
ness in a garage ended with 76
employees and 20 trucks running
in four states.
However, during that business
endeavor is when Ruby's health
began to fail, and a wonderful
caretaker named Gina Shepherd
stepped in. Ruby was originally
from this area, and the couple
came often for 40 years. Her sis-
ter was a Cason, and Ken added
with a grin, "You know all those
Casons in Point, don’t you?”
Meanwhile, good friend Jim
encouraged Ken to move to Emory
so the two of them could open a
Builder’s Blinds store here. How
could he move with a sick wife
and no one to take care of her?
Gina to the rescue: She said she’d
move anywhere as long as she
could take care of Ruby.
The rest really is history. Ken
got with the city of Emory the
very next week, and in a short
time, Kerr/Beck Builder’s Choice
Blinds was an up-and-running
business on Hwy. 69. Son Ricky
works with him, and son Kenny
just moved to this area.
Always one to think of his
wife’s needs, Ken built an Elvis
room for her on the end of the
building. When the businessman
came to work every day. Ruby
and Gina came too and stayed in
the special room until the wife’s
death last year. She’s buried at
Forbis Cemetery, and Ken visits
her every single day. This month
they would have celebrated their
50th anniversary.
About this area, Ken said he’s
never been happier in his whole
life. “I can’t say enough about
the people here. I’ll drive down
the road, and people will wave.
I’ll go buy groceries, and people
will stop and talk. A while back
1 went to a Dallas bank and said
‘hi’ to a man. He looked at me
like I was crazy," he added. Ken
said he could care less if he ever
goes back to the city.
Ken’s settled in the new busi-
ness with Gina as his office man-
ager. “I’m a simple person who
will never retire as long as I can
keep going," he explained. Ten
years down the road he hopes to
have a couple more businesses on
the property.
Totally in his element sitting
behind the desk, he's as comfort-
able in his own skin as he is in
the plaid shirt. Without a doubt,
Ken Beck loves what he does and
where he is.
(Gina provided Ruby's recipes
for this articled
Save Your Own Sugar,
French Fudge
Makes about 1-3/4 pounds
3 pkg, (6 oz. each) semi-sweet
chocolate chips
1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened
Condensed Milk
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt
1/2 c. chopped nuts, optional
In top of double boiler, melt
chocolate over hot water, remove
from heat. Add sweetened con-
densed milk, vanilla, salt, and nuts
if desired. Stir until smooth, Phur
into wax paper-lined 8-inch square
pan. Chill and store in air-tight con-
tainer.
Belgian Waffles
(Makes 6 large waffles)
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1-1/2 c. milk or light cream
4 eggs
Pre-heat waffle iron at medium
heat. Lightly oil the waffle grid sur-
face to prevent sticking. In large
mixing bowl combine cake mix, milk,
eggs and salt. Blend and beat as
directed on package. (Batter will
be thick). Pour about 1 cup bat-
ter (for 9-inch waffle) in preheated
waffle iron. Bake until waffle is
golden brown, about 2 to 4 minutes.
(Waffles will become crisper on cool-
ing). Cool waffles on a wire rack.
Stack sections of waffles and serve
with whipping cream and use any
fruit you want.
Spanish Rice
1 c. enriched rice
1 Tbsp. dehydrated onion
flakes
1/2 c. water
1- 1/2 c. tomato juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
paprika to taste
Place rice in heavy saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring
until browned. Add onion flakes and
remaining ingredients. Bring to a
boil. Cover, lower heat and cook for
20-25 minutes. Divide evenly. Serves
6.
Simple Salmon Patties
6 oz. salmon, flaked, drained
1 Tbsp. dehydrated onion
flakes
1/2 c. minced celery
1 oz. cornmeal
1/4 c. buttermilk
Mix all ingredients together and
shape into patties. Bake at 450
degrees for 15 minutes or until
brown.
Indian Corn Stew
2 Tbsp. butter
1 med. onion, finely chopped
1/3 c. chopped green pepper
1 lb. ground beef
2- 3 c. fresh corn
1 can tomato soup
2 tsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Melt butter in heavy skillet. Add
onions and green pepper. Cook until
soft. Add meat and brown well, stir-
ring frequently. Add corn, soup,
sugar, salt, and sauce. Simmer for 1
hour.
APRIL 8-14
Don C. Spencer, Bill Beeler,
Tony Jennings, Frank L. Miller,
Shirley Hall, Johnriy Sillers,Rob-
ert Ross, Heath Butler, Malinda
Welch, Sandra Martin, Phyllis
Friday, Mark Roland, Faith Mor-
gan, Jason Fenter, Dusty Fen-
ter, Christina Cooper, Melba
Godwin, Brandi Rhodes, Ron-
ald Blanton, Vadean Childers,
Elnore Casali, Charessa Flem-
ing, Ryan Joiner, Nikola Boyce,
Eddy Rabe, Jordan Shedd, Chris
Leslie, Jeremy Medders, Cody
Adams, Lauren Rasberry, Mont
Payne.
\We are trying to update
our birthday list. If your name
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Hill, Earl Clyde, Jr. Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 119, No. 42, Ed. 1 Tuesday, April 3, 2007, newspaper, April 3, 2007; Emory, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth768590/m1/4/?q=iraq+reconstruction: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rains County Library.