Description: Layout describing my grandfather's years with the J.C. Penney company, and his interactions with Mr. Penney. Since I was a little girl, whenever Grandma & Grandpa came to town, we'd always go to shop at J.C. Penney. Grandma & Grandpa always told me it was the best place to shop, and I never really understood why. After I discovered this old photograph of Grandpa with the man himself, I decided to ask Grandpa why he loved the Penney company so much—so much that he spent his entire career working for J.C. Penney. Grandpa's first job for the company was as a shoe salesman in 1944. He worked his way through the ranks, retiring as a store manager in 1981, the same year I was born. As I listened to Grandpa describe the man he ultimately worked for, it became clear why he loved the company he served. James Cash Penney loved to visit stores, and would do so often. Grandpa told me that on the particular occasion, Mr. Penney came to town for three days. He knew all of the store employees by name before the end of his visit. He waited on customers and sold products. Grandpa took him to the barber shop for a haircut and shoe shine. He gave a talk at the local United Way. As I listened to Grandpa recount memories of Mr. Penney's visits, it became clear that James Cash Penney was a man of integrity. He didn't believe he was better than anyone else. He wanted customers to feel welcome in his stores, and to be able to afford his merchandise. This integrity shaped the Penney company into one that was different from the rest. A company of values. Grandpa has many memories of Mr. Penney's visits from over the years. Grandma told me that she and her daughters (my mother and Aunt Susan) often would go to the store themselves when he was in town. Apparently, my young mother even invited him to dinner one night! I think the company's integrity is what truly attracted my grandfather to it originally, and it's why he stayed with them for nearly forty years. My grandfather is a man of morals, so it only follows that he would want to work for a company that believed in a high standard of service. Grandpa tells me that, when it comes to the J.C. Penney company, "not much has changed." Though Mr. Penney died in early 1971, his philosophy still fuels the company he created. J.C. Penney still offers, as Mr. Penney himself once promised, "the utmost in value."