THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150213
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: 20 Questions
SOURCE: Frank Roberts
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Some of the nice things about 1948: Chuck roast at 35 cents a pound, shoulder veal chops at 69 cents, frying chickens at 20 cents a pound.
Today's prices, respectively: about $2.50, $3.80, $1.
Weldon Griffin charged all the prices - high and low - during the 47 years he worked as a butcher for A&P, now Superfresh.
``I started work right after high school. I graduated from Cypress Chapel in June 1948 - it closed two years later - and began working in September,'' said the 65-year-old Suffolk native. ``I liked it - I stayed.''
He left about a month ago. ``I'm retired but,'' Griffin said, ``it still hasn't sunk in. I feel like I'm on vacation.''
His immediate goals are catching up on yard work and doing some painting around the house.
Griffin painted a picture of life behind the butcher's counter when he was first stationed there: ``The customer would point to some meat, tell me how many pounds he wanted. There was no prewrapping then.''
The children of many of those customers were later served by Griffin.
When he served himself, his preference was seafood.
``That's my favorite thing. And, I like poultry,'' said Griffin, who remembers when both products lay bare on the ice. Again, that was before the days of prewrap, preweigh.
``We used to cut the meat,'' Griffin said. ``Now, everything is broken down in units.''
Now, soup-makers and Fido have a rough time.
``Most of today's meat is boneless,'' Griffin said. ``In the old days, we sold bones with the meat for soup and for dogs. Now, we have none.''
Birthdate/hometown: Oct. 17, 1930 - Suffolk.
Fondest childhood memory: The weekly trip into town to pick up groceries. Sometimes a movie at the old Cavalier was a real treat. In high school, participating in Boy's State Model Legislature at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Marital status/children: Married to my wonderful Barbara Ann for 38 years. One son, Victor, 33.
First job/worst job: Only one real job since I was 18, working for A&P/Superfresh 47 years. When I was a kid, the worst job was working in the fields at home. Farming never appealed to me.
Occupation: Meat manager - A&P/Superfresh, but most of all, your friendly neighborhood butcher.
If you had a choice, what other job would you choose? I always had a dream of being an airline pilot.
Favorite night out on the town: A good dinner out and a little shopping.
Favorite food/drink: Any kind of seafood and coffee.
Favorite TV show: Music City Tonight with Crook and Chase.
Book you wish everyone would read: The Bible.
Ideal vacation: The Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Love that cool, fresh air.
I can't resist: Chocolate frozen yogurt.
Few people know that I: Was the pitcher on my high school baseball team.
Most embarrassing moment: Falling off the hood of a friend's car while joy-riding, knocking myself silly. Did I really do that? Please don't try this. I am lucky to be alive.
If you won the lottery, what would you buy? Invest some, give some to my family and church, travel some - and, of course, buy a new car.
What is the best advice you have been given and by whom? Keep your faith in God and do right by other people. Words of true wisdom from my dear mother.
What's the best thing about yourself? My smile.
If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would you be and why? I would be myself. I like who I am. It just wouldn't be any fun being somebody else. Guess I'm a realist.
What achievements are you most proud of? My marriage, my service to my community and my retirement.
Something you wish to say but haven't: I want to thank the customers and co-workers that I have had the pleasure to serve and work with throughout the years. They have made my job special and rewarding. I know that I miss them the most. Thanks for your support. ILLUSTRATION: Photo courtesy of J.W. GRIFFIN
by CNB