THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170218
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Janelle La Bouve
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
``Can you help me?'' asked a young man with a worried look. ``My car is running hot.''
``Does it have plenty of oil?'' asked 62-year-old Bill Midgette.
``I think so,'' the customer said. ``But the oil light keeps coming on.''
Midgette raised the hood of the car and pulled out the dip stick.
``Out of oil,'' Midgette said.
Lester Roberts, Midgette's friend and helper, added two quarts of oil.
Midgette has been the proprietor of Bill Midgette's Auto Shop, a Texaco station at 2600 Bainbridge Blvd., for more than 35 years.
``He's one of a dying breed,'' said Roberts. ``You don't see a station like this anymore. He still checks oil and tires and cleans the windshield.''
The next person through the door had called earlier for instructions to replace a headlight.
``. . . You couldn't get it out?'' Midgette asked. ``Come out here and I'll show you what to do.
``I come from the old school,'' Midgette said. ``I want to do things to help people. To my knowledge we have never overcharged anyone. I charge what we feel is a reasonable price. It's not fair to overprice.
``Back when I had five stations and seven people working for me, we used to have a saying: If anyone is to be cheated I want it to me,'' he said.
One customer has been quite pleased with Midgette's work and his prices.
``The repair work that he has done for me has been top quality, and it has been done quickly,'' said customer Pat Dunleavy. ``He's a wonderful, friendly man who always has a kind word. Everyone who knows him, loves him.''
There's more than work going on at the station.
``Every morning all the old timers - 10 to 15 guys - come up here,'' Midgette said. ``We just hang around more than anything else and argue about current topics. Most of us played football together at South Norfolk High School.
``I love it,'' he said. ``I wouldn't do anything else. I really don't want to retire.''
Full name: William W. Midgette Jr.
Grew up: South Norfolk
Fond childhood memories: ``Going fishing with my dad. We fished for spot, croaker or striped bass - whatever was in season. We went crabbing, too. It was a necessity. We'd clean the fish, put them in a barrel and salt them down. Then we'd eat them all year long.''
Spouse: Ruth
Children: Tony and Trudy
Occupation: Service station owner and operator
Hobbies: ``If I have a hobby, it's studying history.''
Favorite song: ``Stardust''
Favorite movie: ``High Noon''
Can't resist: ``Candy''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I'm pretty happy. I wouldn't even want to win the lottery.''
Greatest accomplishment: ``I made it from a poor boy to owning and operating my own business.''
Favorite TV program: ``I watch The Learning Channel. Anything about history.''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: ``I don't go to them. At night, whatever time I get home, my wife makes a meal for me. That's when I eat my one meal a day.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
``I come from the old school. I want to do things to help people,''
says service station owner Bill Midgette.
by CNB