Walker earns chamber entrepreneur honor
Harold's Cleaners, Phill's Custom Cabinets win awards
6/8/2007
By Keith Lawrence
Messenger-Inquirer
Paul Walker thanked his mother for his success Thursday when he was named entrepreneur of the year by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.
Eunice Lee Kirby didn't live long enough to see the success of the Comfort Keepers franchise her son bought in 2003.
But her final illness was his inspiration.
An estimated 500 chamber members turned out for the Rooster Booster Breakfast at the Executive Inn Rivermont for the annual awards presentation.
Small business of the year honors went to Harold's Cleaners & Tuxedo Rental, 622 E. 22nd St., (10 or fewer employees) and Phill's Custom Cabinets, 2400 Kentucky 81 (11 or more employees).
In 1994, Walker learned firsthand the problems the elderly -- and their families -- encounter in dealing with such simple things as housekeeping and shopping.
He had moved from Owensboro to Chicago in 1974, working in banking risk management. Twenty years later, Walker got a call saying his mother had had a ministroke. And his stepfather was struggling with diabetes.
"There were so many things around the house they couldn't get done," Walker recalled in 2004. "I'd come in on long weekends -- or long weeks -- to help as much as I could. But it was hard trying to help them long distance."
In October 2003, with his mother in a nursing home, Walker moved back to Owensboro and bought a Comfort Keepers franchise -- the nation's 417th.
The chain specializes in nonmedical home care -- meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, transportation and "just companionship to help someone feel more secure."
Walker's plan was to move his mother out of a nursing home and back into her own home, but she died in January 2004, before he could accomplish his goal.
Today, the company has grown to 58 employees who serve an average of 40 to 45 clients each week.
"We have an opportunity to work with the 'Greatest Generation' -- the World War II generation," Walker told the chamber gathering. "It's the grace of God that lets us do what we do."
He credited his staff with the franchise's success.
"It's an incredible honor to even be considered for this award," Walker said.
He said 95 percent of his business is in Daviess County now. But his franchise includes the rights to serve Hancock, Henderson, McLean and Ohio counties.
The company will eventually expand into those counties, Walker said.
Harold's Cleaners has deep roots
Eddie Tichenor bought Harold's Cleaners & Tuxedo Rental from Harold Jones, his wife's uncle, shortly before Jones died in 1990.
The business' roots are deep.
It was called Economy Cleaners when Jones bought it in the late 1950s.
Today, the company has eight employees.
In addition to its regular business, Harold's cleans coats for the local Coats for Kids program, works with high schools to provide prom tuxedos for students who can't afford to rent them and cleans bed linens and comforters for St. Benedict homeless shelter.
Tichenor told chamber members that 17 years ago he "asked God for a business where you don't have to work weekends."
Then, he joked, "Be careful what you pray for."
Tichenor said: "My employees do all the work. I couldn't do it without them."
