Saturday June 20, 2009, 9:53 PM
Father's Day is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the family patriarch. He's the guy who taught us to ride a bicycle or hit a fastball. He's bailed us out when we've gotten into scrapes yet still made us accountable. He's given us good advice, and tried to be understanding if we didn't always follow it.
For some, he's the guiding force in a career choice. So inspired by their father's work, many people decide to follow the same path. Here are some stories from Jackson-area residents who opted to share a career with Dad.
Passing the hammer
Stephen Casler explored the shelves of his family's downtown store as a child, often watching his father's easy banter with customers.
Harold Casler enjoyed the challenge of solving his customers' needs, even the most obscure maintenance dilemma.
For Stephen, now 58, that customer interaction became a way of life.
Stephen's mom dropped him off at Casler Hardware on most weekday mornings and he spent the day with Dad, shuffling through the aisles. The store carried sporting goods in the '50s, and those items caught his eye more than any maintenance supplies.
"I wasn't interested in locks or hinges at the time," Stephen said.
Through the years, while watching his dad's conversations with customers and listening to his innovative repair ideas, that began to change.
Stephen Casler began working full-time in the store at age 18, stocking and pricing items. He took over ownership in the late '80s when Harold Casler retired.
Honestly, Stephen said of his dad, "he didn't let go."
His father died in 2005 at age 90, and the operation was completely in the hands of Stephen and his son, Tim.
Tim Casler, 29, said he has many of the same childhood memories as his father. He spent a short time as a construction worker but ultimately brought that hands-on knowledge back to the store.
Lessons from his father and grandfather have prepared him to take a leadership role in ordering new product lines and creating displays.
"You learn to work hard, be honest and pay your bills," Tim said.
Stephen said the traditional practices of valuing customers and the importance of personal interaction have passed through generations of the Casler family.
"Every day in here is a learning experience. There are different attitudes and different personalities," Stephen said. "No two people are the same."
