Part 3 in the Mr. Steak series, and Part 2 of the Mr. Steak's Competitive Edge series. This one is from December (recorded in November, though) 1976 and is on the topic of something very basic: the importance of the genuinely warm smile in human relations. The idea is that you're not just serving people your product alone, but rather the real need you're meeting is much deeper, a sense of community and connection which is so important to our flourishing as special creatures in the image of God. The folks Grandpa Jim Mather interviews have quite a bit to share on the subject.
Mr. Steak's Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO James A. Jim Mather, my Grandpa Mather, interviews people in an effort to increase what he called Mr. Steak's Competitive Edge by encouraging people to smile in order to help beautify America. This was in December 1976 for the benefit of Mr. Steak's nationwide staff in 285 restaurants. Grandpa interjects his thoughts along with Scripture. This seems to have been a monthly series called "Mr. Steak's Competitive Edge," each month with a new theme.
Many thank to Kerri Marquadt, owner of 7 of the 286 Mr. Steak franchises including the Cheyenne Wyoming location, for the gift to me of these rare tapes of the Mr. Steak franchisor founder and motivational speaker, James A. Mather.
Grandpa Mather was raised by a single mother in the Great Depression in El Dorado, Kansas. He went on to serve as a Navy F2F Hellcat fighter pilot during World War 2. He started the company in 1962. He and his first wife Dottie raised 3 kids in Colorado. He died last year in the presence of his second wife Linda peacefully in Camarillo, California at the ripe age of 102 years young. Funeral services were held at Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park and performed by Pastor Rob McCoy, whom Jim mentored in the Lord.
The still photo is Grandpa Mather with Dr. Jim James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family, probably in Colorado Springs in the early 1980s. They are about to each lunch together in Dobson's office, looks like hamburgers. Grandpa was a multiple time guest on Focus on the Family radio program.
When I went to Summit Ministries for the first time courtesy of Grandpa in 1989, the first person I met was Ryan Dobson, who had highly recommended it to Grandpa.
Enjoy.
The Republican Professor is a pro-free-enterprise-system podcast. Therefore, welcome back Grandpa Jim James A. Mather.
The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D
