Last Monday the community of Lakeport was shocked to see the doors of Piedmont Lumber closed for the final time.
I have been a businessman in Lakeport for almost 31 years and will miss the business of Piedmont Lumber immensely. Not only the business, but what the business had become to Lake County. Every day the huge American flag flew proudly outside the great building, because Bill Myer, among many other things, was also a patriot to this country. In the many years the Myers had their business going in Lake County, they became not only an excellent employer, but a servant to the Lakeport Community. When asked for help on a community event, Piedmont was right there to help. There was never a complaint about weather, time of day, or too long an event. They were always there to serve this community.
There wasn”t a job at Piedmont Lumber that Bill Myer hadn”t done himself. Whether it was hauling out the garbage, driving a forklift, or moving trusses, Bill wanted to know how to do anything he asked anyone else to do. It didn”t make any difference how small or how large the task, Bill wanted to experience the job, so he knew what the employee was experiencing.
So what we are losing is not just a business, but a family that believed in this community and tried every way they could to save the great empire they built. When you did business with Piedmont, you knew that the family extended beyond blood lines, because their employees reflected the feeling of family to the customer. Wouldn”t we, in our businesses, be so lucky if we could project the same feeling to our customers.
Thank you Bill and Vicki for the many years you have given to this community.
Bill Kearney
North Lake Medical Pharmacy
Lakeport
