ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996               TAG: 9604110088
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                PAGE: W-4  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANNETTE GILLESPIE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES

WIILIAM DABNEY IS HAPPY OTHERS WALK ON HIS WORK

William G. Dabney says he was an unlikely candidate to start his own floor and tile business 30 years ago in Northwest Roanoke.

"I went into this not knowing anything about it," said Dabney, a spirited 71-year-old former Army sergeant with a four-year college degree in electrical engineering.

Dabney explained that after he graduated from college, he was unable to find a good job in the engineering field that would keep him close to his home in Virginia. He chose to remain near his family and found work at a local floor and tile company, which offered him training and experience.

In 1966, Dabney branched out on his own and got a license to start his business. He first worked out of his home and later opened a showroom on Lafayette Boulevard where he operated for about 10 years. He relocated the business back to his home and then opened his current showroom, 514 11th St. N.W., about five years ago.

"I take calls here at my home, and I'll work seven days a week if I need to. If a customer can't meet during the week, I'll come to them on the weekend. I don't stop working at 5 o'clock," Dabney said.

Dabney Floor & Tile Service has covered jobs of all sizes throughout the years. Dabney and his staff helped renovate Hotel Roanoke in early 1995 and some of his regular customers include Hollins College, Roanoke schools and a number of banks.

"Big or small ... they call us, and we take care of it," he said.

The best advertising is word-of-mouth from satisfied customers, he said.

"If you do a job and do it well, someone's going to hear about it."

People often ask Dabney where he gets the energy to still be an active part of the business. He continues to do all of the estimating and the inspecting of their work, he said.

"I just keep moving all of the time. I'm up every morning at 6:30. I say as long as I feel great, why should I stay home?" he asked.

He has no immediate plans to retire and does not expect any of his sons - Vincent, Michael and Marlon - to take over the business.

"Each one has been trained in the business, but each has gone a different direction. They all have their own careers, and I guess when the time comes I'll sell the business. But I expect that whoever buys it will want to keep the Dabney name because it has been around so long," Dabney said.

A wide grin stretched across his face as he talked about his hopes of the business continuing after he steps down.

"I would like people to remember that Dabney kept his business going and didn't go down when times were tough," he said.

There were times when he struggled and more than one person told Dabney that he wasn't going to make it, he said. But he credits his good friends on his staff, his family and especially his wife, Beulah, for his success.

"I'm a determined person, and I had made up my mind that I was going to make it. I refused to give up. Sure, it would have been easier to take a job with someone else and forget about the hassles, but I just couldn't do that," Dabney said proudly.

He also said that the survival of his business was built on a reputation that outweighed competition from larger retail stores.

"I was well-known and had my regular customers before the bigger stores got here. I've had customers that I've done work for 20 years ago and they will call up needing something else for their home. I can't remember all of the jobs I've done and the people I've met, but I sure try," Dabney said.

The decision to start his own business was a worthwhile one, he said.

"It's probably a win and lose game and you don't know how it's going to end. You have to have durability. It's a lot of long hours and you've just got to keep going," Dabney said.

It also helps if you love what you do for a living.

"I love it because I'm not in the same place every day and I've met so many nice people. It's always different and that's what makes it interesting," he said.

Dabney Floor & Tile Service

514 11th St. N.W.

345-5367

LENGTH: Medium:   80 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. At 71 and after 30 years in 
          business, William Dabney - owner of Dabney Floor Co. - isn't 
          planning to retire anytime soon.