Published: July 03, 2009 10:23 am      

Print shop marks 40 years

BUSINESS | Father hands off business to his son

It takes a lot to keep a business thriving for 40 years. Sometimes it helps to make it a family project.

That’s the case at Briggs Printing, at 505 S. Second St. On Thursday, friends of the Briggs family gathered outside the printing business to help the family celebrate four decades of Briggs Printing in McAlester.

The gathering also celebrated another occasion — the passing of the business by founding members Leonard and Christine Briggs to their son, Rodney.

Christine Briggs said she and her husband started the business on June 15, 1959.

“We were right off Main and Carl Albert Parkway,” she said. “I was the office manager and he was the shop manager,” she said, nodding toward her husband.

Christine Briggs believes the key to the family’s success has been personal attention.

“We tried to be as efficient as we could with quality printing,” she said. “We tried to price things as economically as we could.”

Leonard Briggs retired in June 2000 and Neal Leffler operated the business.

“He was with us for more than 35 years,” Christine Briggs said. Their son Rodney Briggs, who has a background in the ministry — decided to step in after Leffler stopped operating the business.

“When Neal wanted to retire, it was that or lock the door,” Christine Briggs said.

Rodney Briggs said he took over the operations about two-and-a-half years ago.

“I was a full-time minister for 30 years, so this has been a career change,” he said.

Still, Rodney Briggs had some background in the business, since he had grown up around it. He also shares his parents’ philosophy about keeping prices to customers as economical for them as possible.

“I think a good business is built on helping the community grow,” he said.

Who knows? Maybe the family tradition will continue somewhere down the line.

“We’ll set it for somebody else, maybe a grandchild,” Rodney Briggs said, smiling at the thought.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.