Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Chris B
I have been informed that the Campus McDonalds has been issued a temporary stay of execution. Word on the street is that the store will remain open for an additional three years.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Mary Ann
Hi Everyone!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, I just now finished reading all the emails! How
wonderful to hear everyone's memories. I feel very
lucky to have met all of you. David and I took our
son Ayden to a Mizzou game this past November. It was
Ayden's first time on Campus and we walked over after
the game to see the store. It was closed so we just
looked throught the windows and I explained how I had
worked there for 4 years and made life-long
friendships. We were able to spend time with the
Bramstedt's and Wilfong's that day too, which was
great! I'm so glad to hear everyone is doing well.
Mary Ann
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
zebravet
The veteran with only one finger was known "affectionately" as The
Hacker for his constant mucous expectorating. I had the distinction
of not only serving him his sausage biscuit and coffee while working at
McDonalds as an undergraduate, but then in graduate schoool at Mizzou,
while working for Tiger Taxi, I also picked him up at his home
somewhere on Sanford Avenue off Conley Avenue and BRINGING him to
McDonalds. When he threw his change up onto the dashboard for payment,
sometimes it was never retrieved. Other times, I just paid the $0.85
fare.
Scott H
I first spotted the Campus McDonald's as my parents drove me to my dorm at the beginning of my freshman year. That was in August of 1978, just a few months after it opened. After my parents left, I decided to eat there for dinner--but I forgot the exact location, and couldn't find it at first. I walked to Broadway before I realized I'd gone too far. I found it on the way back, and ate my first meal at MY there.
I had worked during high school at a McDonald's in Kansas City, and just went through the motions and enjoyed the free meals. I had no intention of working there again. I didn't pay any particular attention to the Campus store during my first visit, except everything was clean and new, and the basement setting was different.
To help pay my way through school, I began working in the Pershing Group cafeteria. One day while working out in the Rothwell Gym, I met Bob Bailey--who later became one of my best friends. Shortly after that, I saw him working at Campus. I noticed that he and the rest of the crew seemed to be having fun and getting along great. By October, I had applied for a job there and gotten hired. I was eating more there than at Pershing, anyway. I also got to know and become good friends with Jim Watkins and Bob Randolph, who lived in Cramer Hall with me and worked at Campus.
For me, working at Campus was the high school I never had. In high school, I was a 98-pound weakling who wasn't popular, hot, funny, hip or athletic. I didn't make many friends, and never dated. Campus was one of the few places I'd been up to that point, where I was treated as an equal. The crew made me feel welcome, and accepted me for who I was. Joe Kell, Jan Keithley and Jay Curry were the main people in charge, and they remain among my best friends today. The first girl at Mizzou I had a crush on, was at Campus. So was the only girl I ever dated more than once.
One thing I learned at Campus, was how to work at a high-volume store with talented crewpeople--many whom had been managers at their home stores. I didn't learn until later how difficult it was to get hired at Campus. Jan hired the best of the best from across the state. I learned to take the job seriously and take pride in my work, because I didn't want to fall behind the rest of the crew. Working home football Saturdays, FFA conventions and state music festivals were a thrill. I fed off the energy given off by the rest of the crew.
I also learned how much fun Campus could be after work. On weekends after close, I'd be invited to someone's dorm or apartment to play spades. I had played in high school, but wasn't good at it. I learned how to play against talented, competitive people. I enjoyed the McDonald's social scene so much that I hardly ever studied. I would close Friday night, stay up all night playing spades, open Saturday morning for football games, go to the game, take a nap, play spades all night again, and sleep all day Saturday. No wonder my first semester was a C, two D's and an F! I flunked out midway through my sophomore year, moved out of the dorm and started working full-time at campus.
That's when I learned my final lesson--to take college seriously. I didn't socialize as much. When I wasn't working, I took Easy Access courses six credit hours at a time, and correspondence courses on the side. I did that for about three semesters. When a dean at the J-School saw that I had turned my grades around, he admitted me. I reduced my hours at Campus, and concentrated on graduating. I was on the six-year plan, but I made it! It took me a year to get my first broadcasting job, so I stayed in Columbia working at Campus.
I thought I had left McDonald's behind for good, until one summer day at my first job in Tupelo, Mississippi. I hated it there--and knowing that, three guys from Campus came down to visit and cheer me up. They were Dave Watson, Chris Bramstedt and Dave Wilfong. I knew Watson the best, and was only acquainted with the other two. I don't know where Watson is now, or what he's doing. But from that day in 1985 on, I became best friends with Bramstedt and Wilfong. Every year, they visit me or I visit them. I was honored to be the best man at their weddings, and watch their kids grow up. They both have helped me move to some of the places I've worked, and I've even lived with them during some tough times in my life. They've always been there for me.
On one visit back to Columbia, I enjoyed a return to the good old days at Campus. I gave Jan free labor during a state music festival, just to experience the thrill of how it used to be, one last time. As it turned out, I wasn't the only one with the same idea. Mary Ann and Ursula Seidelmann did the same thing! You should have seen the smile on Jan's face. That's the kind of loyalty she generated, and the kind of environment she created.
McDonald's has remained part of my life in one way or another since then. In four of my five broadcasting jobs, I've lived within walking distance of a store (not by design!). In 1992 after getting laid-off from a broadcasting job, I moved in with Wilfong and worked at a store in Springfield, MO. By then, the change in McDonald's already was evident. No more bins, no two fry stations, no four grills, no more 12 registers and cashiers, no more sear-lay or even turn-lay. No steamed danish. No more high-volume periods. Not nearly the level of skill, pride and responsibility. Not nearly the QSC we all learned. In fact, I was hired as a maintenance man in Springfield--but when the managers learned I had extensive experience working at Campus, they quickly had me opening and in drive-thru!
I think we all realize our Campus experience was unique and special. We probably are among the last people to experience the Golden Age of McDonald's. It's gone forever. But we can say we were there, and we enjoyed it. Thanks to all of you who remain my friends, and who will remain a part of so many good memories during one of the best times in my life.
As I close, I share with you my top ten memories of the Campus McDonald's. Some, I was present for; others, I was told about.
1. The first spades tournament. I can modestly say that I started what became an annual tradition for a while. It grew into brackets, seedings, entry fees, trophies, refreshments, mailed entry forms and official rules. I just didn't realize until later that you can't play a double-elimination, best-of-three tournament in one weekend. But I was amazed by how excited everyone got about the tourney--and how competitive it was. It was the next best thing to the campus-wide tournament idea Joe Kell and I had dreamed of.
2. John Frederich. The manager from Boonville was always getting into trouble. He got scolded a few times by Joe and Jan, and occasionally butted heads with Karen. He kept things interesting.
3. McAwards. At the end of a store picnic, we announced the results of a "best" list. Which crewpeople were the hottest, funniest, etc. Lots of laughs.
4. The Free Labor mentioned above.
5. Delivery Night. Bramstedt, his future wife Beth, and Wilfong hatched a plan (unknown to Jan) to deliver burgers to dorms and Greek houses on a Sunday night. Jan didn't approve when she learned of it the next day, but she couldn't complain about the sales it generated!
6. Open Vat. During one high-volume period and close to setting a record hour, one of the valves to a fry vat suddenly opens, dumping hot oil on the floor, making a mess, and ending the chance for a record hour.
7. Drink Station Incident. Joe Kell is running drinks for a register guy named Ed Engel. Ed, being a playful guy, innocently says: "How about a medium Coke there, big guy?" Joe gets pissed, not realizing Ed didn't mean anything by it.
8. Dress Table Incident. Closers had a habit of breaking down the dress table late in the shift to get ahead, using breakfast bases and a fry basket as condiment holders. That practice lasted a long time--until owner Doug Mehle made a surprise visit one night. That was the end of the practice!
9. Leslie Rose. Sweet girl who was easy to scare. A little TOO easy. Her blood-curdling screams earned me more than one stern look from Jan.
10. Denny Forbis. Maintenance man who used Kung Fu moves to pursue apprehend a customer who stole Diamond Hunt game pieces.
Have a great year, everyone!
Scott H
Friday, January 11, 2008
Becky
Whatever it is that Duckie is doing for AB, his incredible talents are seriously underutilized!
Duckie
Whereas many people will testify how college life helped them to achieve enlightenment in the intellectual conclaves of blah, blah, blah… I was just glad to be a part of such a humble, down-to-earth environment free from politics, social strife and personality flare-ups; where no social cliques existed (not that Dave Watson, bless his heart, ever stopped trying). You folks were intelligent, to be sure, but none of you ever labored under the pretense of acting like an intellectual…
Please read on (see attachment)…
Dave "Duckie"
A Tree Grows in Lowry”
Not to bore you with details about the legacy birth date policies of the Hazelwood School District; but suffice to say I was still a mere seventeen-year-old (and, as some may attest, not a very mature one at that) when I arrived at MU in 1982. Yet despite my 18 months’ experience and a sterling recommendation from Laura Collins, securing the job was far from a slam dunk.
I got my first impression of Jan Keithley that August day as she impassively perused my tepid McApplication and sternly mumbled something about already having enough people for the semester. I was convinced I was about to be dismissed faster than a Wilfong girlfriend when one last fleeting glance at my availability led her to say “Hmmm…you only have a single 1:40 class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?That’s three lunch shifts...”
The atmosphere was the same, even though some of the players had changed, when I returned in August 1985.Gone were the Old-School personalities of Watkins, Sasse, and Miller. Now, in addition to a burgeoning Simms Dynasty, there were, among others, the Looney Luetkemeyers, the Sinister Seidelmanns, the mildly underrated Patterson brothers, and some hulking hayseed of a shift manager everyone was calling “Tedder”. But this time, that obnoxious kid everyone hoped had long been filtered out by the University’s academic standards, was different.He was more confident, attentive, and even a bit more serious (if ONLY a bit).
What could I say: working within the talents of the Campus McFamily tends to sponsor such growth in people who are ready for it…
Before I finish, and in the spirit of commemorating such an amazing chapter of our lives, indulge me as I seek personal closure with the following people:
Ahhhh yes…All this AND $4 an hour….
-DC
Please read on (see attachment)…
Dave "Duckie"
A Tree Grows in Lowry”
McQuote…
CHRIS KLINE: “You know, Kathy and I are discovering that
ME: “I find your keen grasp of erudite cultural dining very fascinating. Now could you please pass me that tray of greasy Quarter-Pounders?” *
-circa 1986
*(disclaimer: This response may have actually been internal dialog)
Not to bore you with details about the legacy birth date policies of the Hazelwood School District; but suffice to say I was still a mere seventeen-year-old (and, as some may attest, not a very mature one at that) when I arrived at MU in 1982. Yet despite my 18 months’ experience and a sterling recommendation from Laura Collins, securing the job was far from a slam dunk.
I got my first impression of Jan Keithley that August day as she impassively perused my tepid McApplication and sternly mumbled something about already having enough people for the semester. I was convinced I was about to be dismissed faster than a Wilfong girlfriend when one last fleeting glance at my availability led her to say “Hmmm…you only have a single 1:40 class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?That’s three lunch shifts...”
As for my first month? Well, for the most part, my “listening issue” ushered in an unprecedented store-wide mandate that stated whereupon any occasion that finds Dave Canada and Clay Munro working concurrent shifts, the on-duty manager should not, under any circumstances, allow them to work in the same grill area. (This policy was rewritten in 1985, with the part of “Clay Munro” replaced with “Andy Chiodini”).
One thing was becoming abundantly clear: This weren’t no high school joint. Almost everyone here was the “Ace” employee from their hometown store; each could work every station, and all had the razor-sharp ability to calculate their own customers’ change faster than the POS system. There were no whiners or slackers here; these people were pros… I was clearly the Filet-O-Fish-out-of-water. In fact, the only things that kept my McD’s career afloat that first year were:
- The generosity (read: tolerance) from the likes of veterans Bob Simms, Kerri Forbis, Sheryl Bird, and the munificent Pat Brei,
- Simpatico friendships from fellow freshmen Ellen Peterson and Gretchen Wilder.
- The irreverent humor of Clay, John Reidy and Todd Bockledge
- Tough love from Karen Miller
- An unshakeable affiliation (much to their chagrin) with higher-skilled crew members (I’m lookin’ at you, Bramstedt).
- A steady stream of gossip from Sue Bryan and Robert Deyermond (all good, I assure you…ahem)
- The prevailing notion that no matter how shoddy my performance may have been, Bob Woodson always seemed to be there to catch more heat
1 McQuote…
PAT BREI: <surveying the Quarter Grill area> “John Reidy, you have GOT to be the messiest cook here…”
REIDY: <deliberately wipes his spatula directly across his stomach> “Whatta ya mean?...”
-circa 1983
2 McQuote…
JERRI: <entering the crowded break room, seemingly confused> “Now, what was it I was looking for?”
TODD BOCKLEDGE: <not even looking up from his lunch> “The door, I hope....”
-circa 1982
The atmosphere was the same, even though some of the players had changed, when I returned in August 1985.Gone were the Old-School personalities of Watkins, Sasse, and Miller. Now, in addition to a burgeoning Simms Dynasty, there were, among others, the Looney Luetkemeyers, the Sinister Seidelmanns, the mildly underrated Patterson brothers, and some hulking hayseed of a shift manager everyone was calling “Tedder”. But this time, that obnoxious kid everyone hoped had long been filtered out by the University’s academic standards, was different.He was more confident, attentive, and even a bit more serious (if ONLY a bit).
What could I say: working within the talents of the Campus McFamily tends to sponsor such growth in people who are ready for it…
Some highlights:
- Andy’s 14” rubber trout, kept under the counter, to be sprung upon any semantically-challenged customer who was unfortunate enough to order a “Fish” instead of a “Filet”.
- For a while --until the tenants were allegedly slapped with a legal warning, anyway-- before we threw any bulk item away, we subliminally imagined how the object would look if it were tossed out of a certain 4th floor Manor House window…
- Closing on “Wash”, with the break room blaring KCMQ (96.7), KTXY (106.9), and that one other station that played Steely Dan all the time… and Man, I swore that if I heard “Rock Me Amadeus” one more damned time, I was taking hostages…
- Fever-pitched Window races during lunch hour – admittedly one of the few times we ever got to see each other’s Dark Side “Ooops!Sorry, Bipple, Was that your foot I kicked out beneath you as we were both reaching for the last McCheddarMelt?”
- Spades Tourneys on select weekends, complete with a marketing campaign (i.e. the infamous break room corkboard).
- Overnight accommodations were always free; simply pick which fold-out table you want to sleep under.
- Comedy Nights at Déjà Vu (Tuesdays), ‘Oldies Night’ at Maxi’s (Thursdays), and Molly Whitmore coercing a bouncer to let me in on an ID he suspected was fake (itwas).
- Gunther’s Games (formerly Pin Pan Alley) on Broadway, pretty much every other day, spending way too many hard-earned quarters trying to outscore “Myrtle” Luetkemeyer on “Pinbot”.
- (Honorable mentions go to “Burger Time” and “Tron” in the Missouri Bookstore vestibule).
- Wilfong’s Amazing Banana-Slicing-Playing-Card-Projectiles:
- Who want to see him up against a Shin-kicking Theresa Keller in a Pay-per-View Smackdown?
- The unspoken rivalry between which place hosted the most social events:A
- Ashland Gravel Rd’s Townhouse- Motto: “Jeez, did Canadaspend the night AGAIN?” (Luetkemeyer/Aubrey/Murphy)
- SouthHampton’s Bungalow (“ESPN Lite”, or “RISK™ Central”, or “That One Place with the Dead Oscar in the Fish Tank and the Christmas Tree Nailed to the Ceiling” (Watson/Wilfong/Bramstedt/Tedder/ and sometimes Voss)
McQuote…
ANONYMOUS: “Hey! Someone left their paper crew hat on the transfer bin…no wait… now it’s moving. Oh, never mind, it’s Rodd Aubrey. False alarm…”
-circa 1985
Before I finish, and in the spirit of commemorating such an amazing chapter of our lives, indulge me as I seek personal closure with the following people:
- Editor’s Note:remove this bullet item before final draft
McQuote…
JAN: <rolling her eyes and easing back up the ramp, as if to indicate she saw nothing> “Just…just …clean it up when you’re done…”
-December 1986
Ahhhh yes…All this AND $4 an hour….
-DC
Chuck
I love reading all the comments that have been sent. A lot a truly great thing happened to me while at Mizzou and at the Campus McDonalds. I had friends in high school and I made friends since graduating, but the friends I love seeing the most are you guys. I truly love going to the Spades Tournaments, more to see people than to play.
Working at McDonalds wasn’t my first job while going to school, but I got to know everyone because my brother Bob was working there. Like others, I was on the extended school plan due to too many non-school activities. I got that turned around and started working for Jan on campus my last two years at school and had a blast.
Here are a few of the things I remember from that time:
· Closing one night and opening the next morning.
· Opening the doors in the morning and the first customers wants a refill on his coffee, (they bring in their old cups)
· Unloading the truck in the rain or when it’s freezing.
· Register races, one person on register and two runners, ( I even won once)
· Mc’Picnics in the spring. I still have a red McDonalds hat I won my last year.
· Playing Risk all day and all night and then writing up the summaries of the game on the box top. (Jim, I’d love to read those again sometime if you still have them)
· The “one finger man” constantly losing the egg on his Egg McMuffin.
There were a lot of events from that time that really stick out in my mind. Marring Melinda my last semester has got to be a high point, and I remember being at McDonalds when I heard about the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, which would be a low point. There are so many events in between these.
I can truly say that I either learned or came to understand some of the things that have helped me in life, while working at the Campus McDonalds. Like teamwork, hard work, enjoying what you’re doing, and friendships that last a lifetime.
It was a fun time which we may never experience again, but these emails have helped me to remember a lot of it.
Thanks, and have a great year.
Chuck
Barb R
Hey, thanks for the memories.
I met my hot husband at campus McDonald's.
He was definitely the cutest burger flipper around, always smiling for some reason.
He's still a hottie after 25 years
Jay Curry made me my first nametag 'Airhead.'
My roomies also worked at campus McD's, Sandy and Maureen.
Fun times.
The term 'Galvanized' was coined after hours!!!
Good memories, good friends.
I am thinking we need a reunion.
~ Barb R
I met my hot husband at campus McDonald's.
He was definitely the cutest burger flipper around, always smiling for some reason.
He's still a hottie after 25 years
Jay Curry made me my first nametag 'Airhead.'
My roomies also worked at campus McD's, Sandy and Maureen.
Fun times.
The term 'Galvanized' was coined after hours!!!
Good memories, good friends.
I am thinking we need a reunion.
~ Barb R
Danna
How could you forget about baking the phone? I still have nightmares about you guys throwing things out the 4th story window and us almost getting kicked out of our apartment!!!
Our boys think we're crazy when we tell all of our "McDonald's" stories. They see a side of their parents they don't normally see! Hopefully, they will have the chance to experience the same things some day (well, maybe not all of them!).
Honestly, we've tried to keep the spades tournament tradition alive. For those who didn't know, we've had 3 or 4 of them at our house in St.Charles over the past few years. We've been playing during the Christmas/NewYear's break week. Keep that in mind for next year and if you're interested in playing, let us know!
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