Sidney N. Shure believed the most important role of a manager was to manage people with fairness, honesty, and respect. After the Company moved to larger quarters suitable for manufacturing at 225 West Huron Street in Chicago in 1931, it established a parking lot a block away in 1943. At that time, few companies Invested in a separate parking lot because most employees traveled by streetcar or elevated train.
In a memo issued when the lot was announced, Mr. Shure informed employees: “There is regular maintenance and policing for the protection of each car. Car owners are notified in the case of flat tires, lights left on, and motors left running … Floodlights have been installed for night-shift employees. Hourly visits to the parking lot are made by the guard force.”
In 1946, Hampton Donahoo, Company driver promoted to Storeskeeping, turns the keys of the truck over to Emmis Kooyumjian. The new half-ton panel Chevrolet truck was purchased by Shure on April 28 to replace the Company automobile that was used to make pickups and deliveries throughout the city.
In assigning parking places, Mr. Shure applied his usual sense of fairness and practicality. There were only three reserved spaces: one for Mr. Shure; one for Melvin Krumrey, a salesman who frequently came and went; and one for Hampton Donahoo, a delivery driver, who was in and out of the lot throughout the day. Shure vice presidents and employees did not have assigned spaces.
Sergeant Hawkinson, a security guard, looks at the new sign for the Shure parking lot in 1943 as employee Steve Mikolaczyk parks his car.
Bob Shure recalls being in the office one Saturday when an employee came in and informed Mr. Shure that the gravel-covered parking lot was creating nicks and scratches on the cars.
“I remember this very clearly, even though I was only 10 years old,” recalled Bob. “My father listened intently, thought for a moment, and said, ‘Okay, what are our options?’ I heard him say that frequently. He was always willing to listen to a good idea, but he also wanted to understand all his options.” The parking lot was eventually paved.
