MEMORIES: 40 Years of Employee Memories

The luckiest guy at Dick's
When it comes to Dick's I think I'm the luckiest guy in Seattle. You see I not only get to work at Dick's full time, and eat Dick's food almost every day, Dick is my Dad! Because I know him better than most people, I would like to share a few of my memories of Dad and his life. Dad is a unique human being with an unstoppable enthusiasm for life and learning. I must admit that a lot of my memories are second hand, told to me by my Grandma Elsie before she died. But please take a minute to read on, and then decide for yourself.

The fact that Dad was able to help create something as wonderful as Dick's is even more amazing when you know how he grew up. He was born in Portland, Oregon in 1923, the first child of a teenage mother (a truly remarkable woman I knew later as Grandma Elsie) and a fun-loving father. Although his parents were married when he was born, the marriage only lasted a few months. Dad's father never was much of a family man, perhaps because his own father had died when he was young, a few years after bringing his family here from Europe.

Luckily, Dad was blessed with two angels for Grandmothers: strong women who knew the meaning of the word "family." They took turns taking care of him while his Mom worked during the day. About five years later, Dad's Mom fell in love again and this time the marriage would last 50 years. Ray Schmeer worked hard to make sure his new wife and step-son had food on the table and a roof over their heads. This wasn't so easy as the "roaring 20"s" quickly gave way to the 1930's and the Great Depression. To keep working, Ray had to move the family several times to different cities in Oregon and Washington.

Dad turned 18 on October 15, 1941, just seven weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. By 1943, he was serving in the Pacific as a sailor in the Navy. Like a lot of the young men of his generation, he made a lot of good friends during World War II, some of whom never returned home. When the war ended in 1945, Dad joined the thousands of men and women who used the "G.I. Bill" to get a college education that would otherwise have been impossible. Like most of them, Dad was the first person in his extended family to graduate from college. Shortly after graduating from Oregon State in 1950 with a degree in business. Dad was again called back to military service. This time it was the Korean War, and Dad, as a recent graduate of the Air Force R.O.T.C. program, was placed on active duty and sent overseas again.

Finally, in 1953, at the age of 29, Dad was still in the Air Force Reserves but no longer on active duty. He finally had the opportunity to do what he had always wanted to do-start his own business. Of course, he had saved very little money while going to college and serving in the Air Force, but he was never one to let a little detail like that interfere with his vision of a better future. Working out of his "home office" at the Multnoma Club in Portland, he sent a proposal to open a restaurant to his old WWII buddy in Seattle. Together, the two joined forces with a young Dentistry Professor at the U.W. and formed a partnership. A few months later, during the middle of winter, the first Dick's Drive-In began selling burgers, fries and shakes on Seattle's NE 45th Street.

I wish I had been there for Dick's Grand Opening on January 28, 1954. Unfortunately, I wasn't born until 1957! Thank God, Dad took a little time for himself during Dick's first year or he might never have met Mom at a church young adult group. They married a year later in Seattle on the same night as the Seafair Torch Light Parade. The church was right on the parade route too! For a while, Mom and Dad lived on a little houseboat on Lake Union, but with the first of five kids soon on the way, they moved to an old house on Capitol Hill. I was the second of five kids, and you can bet that we all ate at Dick's regularly!

When I was still a young boy, Dad would sometimes take me with him to work in his blue '61 Thunderbird. My favorite part was going with him when he visited each drive-in. I remember meeting the people there and being very impressed by their uniforms and how they kept everything so clean while making zillions of yummy burgers, fries and shakes. Of course, I always got to eat at Dick's on those special days when Dad took me with him, and I remember that I used to love to take the top off my milkshake and dip my fires into the shake. What a treat! I also loved feeding a few of the small fries to the birds that would almost eat them out of your hand.

Mom and Dad both believed very strongly in the value of education. They always encouraged us to find something educational that we loved to do. I remember Dad saying something like: "I don't care what you learn, as long as you love learning it; if you find something you love to learn, I'll do whatever I can to help you learn it."

In our own time, each of the kids took Mom and Dad's advice. All five kids graduated from college. I went on to law school at the U.W. and a law practice in Seattle and Bellevue. But I always hoped that someday I would have the chance to work at Dick's with Dad.

When Dad's partners decided they wanted to sell the business in the mid-1980's, Dad asked me to be his legal advisor. Although Dad had the greatest respect and admiration for his partners, he loved Dick's too much to ever sell it. So instead he and Mom decided to buy out the other partners, and I was privileged to work with Dad almost every day over more than a year as we worked out the details. Although I never expected to work at Dick's Dad and I worked so well together that after the deal closed he asked me to continue working with him to help "guide Dick's in a smooth transition to the next generation." It was like a childhood dream come true! I immediately agreed and began to work at Dick's as soon as I helped my other clients find a new attorney.

It's part of my job to eat at Dick's, which, I do with pleasure almost every day. I get to work with my Dad and over one hundred other people who like working at Dick's, almost as much as I do. When I meet new people and tell them I work at Dick's, they usually smile or laugh and tell me about the good times they have enjoyed at Dick's with family and friends over the years. And when I tell them that there really is a "Dick" and that he's my Dad, most people think I'm kidding. The best part, though, is bringing my own two young kids to Dick's to meet the other people who work there, share some great food and, every now and then, feed the birds.

Yes, there is no doubt about it. When it comes to Dick's, I'm definitely the luckiest guy in town. Thanks Dad. Thanks for all the great memories, and for trusting me to keep an eye on the store for you and Mom. I know how much you love Dick's, and how much you really appreciate all the people who work and eat there. I won't let you down.
Jim Spady Age: 35

Rehearsing to become a star
One of my friends and a co-employee of Dick's Drive In on several occasions brought in his harp for some "live music" after we closed the Drive In for the evening. That harpist was Lloyd Lindroff, who ultimately became the top swing harpist in the United States. I believe he has been entertaining in Nashville for years and each time I see him on television, I am reminded that even 40 years ago (listening to him play his harp for me at "Dick's") that he for sure would become a nationally known musician.
I can also remember coming on shift early so there would be time to cut the potatoes for French fries by hand. I look back with a smile we had fun!
Dick Helgeland Age: 61
Former Employee Wallingford, 1954

What a mess!
It was October 1990, a Saturday. I was asked to work at 10:15-6:45 up at Broadway. I got there just before 10:00am and Oh boy! What a mess. The maintenance crew didn't show up. The lot was trashed. All the swing tops were full. Garbage was everywhere. Sheila Driskell (shift manager) was not there. So...Sheila shows up at 10:15 or so. I think someone else was late also. Anyway, I was changing the fry oil. Since we were so far behind, I was pouring the kettles of fat instead of siphoning them. As it turns out the thermostat on the cook kettle was broken. So the super-heated oil ignited the filter core and the flame jumped up the stream of my pouring oil that was in the kettle. So there I was holding about 20 pounds of oil on fire. Fortunately, I was able to squat and set it down without burning myself or spilling and flaming oil. Otis Smith grabbed an extinguisher and put it out. Fire retardant was all over the front counter, on the cups, trays and floors. We had to Bon Ami the entire store. We got open at about 12:20pm that day. I have not worked at Broadway since.
Andy Roach Age: 23
Employee Wallingford, 1990 +

Making burgers for 19¢
Jim Corey Age: 53
Former Employee Wallingford, 1956

Bring on the rock and roll
I was an employee of Dick's for some time during the late 60's and early 70's. I worked at all of the stores, even the Bellevue location under the capable hand of Ken Baron. Most of my time was spent as a night manager for the Holman Road store. Some of my best memories are of times spent with my fellow managers and co-workers in and outside of work. One of the funniest things that I still remember to this day is the "Great Muzak April Fools" joke we played on Warren Ghormley, who so loved the piped-in music service of "Muzak." We had tried unsuccessfully to convince Warren that the kids and most of the customers would enjoy some rock music. With the help of Shirley, the office girl at the time, myself, and an accomplice, we got into the office early one morning and wired up a reel to reel tape player to come on instead of the "Muzak" when Mr. Ghormley flipped the switch. The song we used was a nice, mellow cut from The Allman Brothers Band. It started out with some guitar work and some rhythmic drums, but when the vocals cut in, I understand, Warren came running out of his office and told Shirley to call the Muzak company, for there must of been some sort of mistake. Anyway, we all got a good laugh out of it and I noticed now when I go out for my favorite hamburger and a hand dipped shake, Dick's is now playing, WHAT?!?! could it be? Yes, it's Rock and Roll. Keep up the good work, you still make the best and fastest food in town.
Mark Clinton Age: 43
Former Employee Holman Road, 60s and 70s

Team work on the fries
It was the middle of summer and we were swamped!! I was on fries and running about 1/2 hour behind due to the volume of people. Warren Ghormley noticed that our other employees were waiting on about 1/2 billion orders of fries. He stopped what he was doing and came to the fry area and cut spuds for me and helped me get caught up in about half the time it would have taken me by myself. I thought that was really cool for one of the owners to take time out for one employee and not just say "that's your problem."
Lori Lynn DeWitt Age: 29
Former Employee Holman Road, 1988

Living on burgers and fries
The summer before my senior year at Stanford University I was delighted to get a job at "Ricardo's Club 19" on Broadway. I must have scooped ice cream for thousands of milkshakes during my night shifts. At midnight I walked home to a room I shared with two friends in a dormitory at Seattle University. My share of the rent was $50 a month.

To save money, every day that summer I ate hamburgers and fries for lunch and dinner. When I got off shift, if there were any leftover burgers, I carried them home to my equally broke roommates, for their late night dinner. We never tired of our diet, which is certainly a testimonial to the quality of the food (and our hunger).

Now my grown-up lawyer daughter likes to take her L.A. friends to "where mom worked." Where says the burgers and fries are still as wonderful as I remember them.
Kathy Muir
Former Employee Broadway

Still there after all these years
In 1965, my soon-to-be wife and I often joined with another couple and browsed the classy stores on Broadway. We'd often stop at the B'way Dick's for Saturday lunch. We'd talk over the expensive things we'd seen and dream of one day furnishing our house.

Burgers were 19 cents (maybe 29 cents) and we could "lunch" for less than a $1.00 easy. We were "modern" for 1966 - we each paid for our own lunch!

Years later, our son Matt worked at Dick's in Wallingford. Burgers were 75 cents but Dick's was still there. I'm single now and Dick's is still there.
Miton Hamlin Age: 53
Former Employee Wallingford, 1962

Please order fries at the window to your right
One particularly busy Saturday, I was working the middle window helping customers. A gentleman ordered two hamburgers, a shake and an order of fries. I got his burgers and shake for him and explained that he would have to step down to the French fry window to his right. There was a long line and by the time he got to the head of the line, I had come over to help. I remembered him and asked "That was one fry, right sir." At that point, he threw the only hamburger he had left at me and left abruptly. Thank goodness he had finished his shake. Most customers were better satisfied.
Bruce L. Fyfe Age: 47
Former Employee Wallingford, 1965-66

But all the malt girls get a bath their first night
I was a Sophomore at Ingraham when I first began working at Dick's Drive In, as a "Malt Girl." I was nervous my first night working, as anyone would be. To make matters worse, my boss, Rick Biehl, teased me and told me that on malt girls' first night working, the guys always gave them a bath in the stainless steel sink in back, after work. I was pretty sure he was just kidding but relieved, just the same, when 2:00am came and they let me go home (without taking a bath).

The kidding and fun never stopped the whole time I worked there. We were one big happy family. I loved working there and miss the good ole days at Dick's.
Charlene (Cagle) Zimmerman Age: 39
Former Employee Holman Road, 1970-72

The malt machine claims another victim
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was working as a "Malt Girl" at the Dick's on Holman Road. It was extremely busy on a hot summer evening. I was reaching back for a burger when the customer I was waiting on asked me something. I turned my head to hear what they were saying when, to my surprise, my long hair began wrapping itself around the spindle of the malt machine. It wound up my hair completely until I couldn't move. Chocolate shake was sparying everywhere. I called for help. My boss, Tick, who had been cooking burgers at the time was on the floor laughing.
Charlene (Cagle ) Zimmerman Age: 39
Former Employee Holman Road, 1970-72

Free Food
In the early years after the opening of Dick's, your purchases of food would be free if there was a star on the sales receipt.
June Menzie Age: 73
Former Employee Wallingford, 1955-59

All Dick's burgers come with a little mustard and ketchup
Customers would order hamburgers with a variety of condiments and be surprised when we said "Our burgers come with only a small amount of mustard and ketchup." Then we would explain since many children are in the cars with parents that Dick's hamburgers not only taste good but were not messy for the young ones. Most people left happy.
June Menzie Age: 73
Former Employee Wallingford, 1955-59

Tacos at Dick's?
During the four years I worked at Dick's, we were allowed all the hamburgers you could eat without cost.

One day the cook said "Let's have tacos today, we have the meat and cheese. They tasted great; however the next day there was a notice on the bulletin board stating that meat and cheese were for burgers.

Don't know who told on us because everyone on the shift ate tacos!
June Menzie Age: 73
Former Employee Wallingford 1955-59

Customers like the change
I worked at Dick's from April 1955 to June 1959. At that time customers had to go to separate window for their purchases. The middle window sold burgers, malts, and drinks, the west window sold French fries and the west window sold ice cream cones and sundaes.

There was grumbling about delays and customers were real happy when this system was changed.

I really enjoyed working for Dick's. I especially like working the lunch hour when school was in session and Lincoln students dashed down for the lunch hour.
June Menzie Age: 73
Former Employee Wallingford, 1955-59

Jerry was a real good manager, treating everyone fairly. Always took us flying or for fishing trips. It was a great place to work. Best food in town.
Mary Brobeck
Former Employee Lake City and Holman Road 1974-75

Good Memories
There are many good memories, both of working at Dick's and also of eating there.
Strange as it may seem, I remember that in 1967-68, 2 cheeseburgers and a bag of fries cost 67¢. We had to memorize the price of various combinations of food items and it seems that Dick's personnel still do the same things today.
I can't point to a single favorite memory of Dick's, but most of my memories are good ones. I've eaten at Dick's for more than 30 years and Dick's remains the best fast-food place in Seattle.
James R. Silva Age: 46
Former Employee Broadway, 1967

Never mind that there's a holdup, customer service must go on
Ken Baron, manager of Broadway, exemplified excellent customer service under duress during a rare holdup in 1974. When asked to place all the money from the till in a brown paper bag he responded by asking if a white paper bag would be OK. Receiving a favorable reply to this question he then asked if he could keep some small bills and coins to make change for the next customers.

When informed of the holdup shortly after it's occurrence the crew never missed a beat. All windows stayed open and full production continued! And what was Norm Skeels response when told that we'd just been robbed? "Cool!!" he said.
Ralph & Laurie Leak Ages: 38/37
Former Employees Broadway, Queen Anne, Lake City and Wallingford 1973-1977

An explosive tale
One evening, a guy and his girlfriend got into an argument whereby the girlfriend hurled a wrapped Deluxe at her boyfriend only to miss him yet hit a power pole transformer, which cut power to the entire Broadway district for 2 hours!
Greg Ratliff Age: 41
Former Employee Broadway, 1979

Two generations at Dick's
My favorite Dick's memory did not happen while I was working at Dick's, but 18 years earlier. On March 13, 1969, a very pregnant young woman worked at the Capitol Hill Dick's. When the dinner crowd arrived at night, she had felt what she thought was heartburn, having just eaten 3 packages of fries on her break. She continued working, but the pains grew stronger. Meanwhile, I was making quite a commotion. I smelled all the delicious food and wanted out! So I started swimming toward the exit! Minutes later, I was born!
Greg Murry
Former Employee Lake City, 1987

My favorite Dick's memories were hiding in the Walk-in to stay cool and seeing Sonny Sixkiller at 45th St.
Kathy (Madden) Hendrickson Age: 38
Former Employee Lake City, 1972-1974

She spoke her mind
This story is sort of risque'! One evening my buddy and a gal we knew were eating burgers at Dick's on Broadway. Our girl friend was so excited and happy to be there she exclaimed: "I just love Dick's!!" Well, there was a slight pause and then we all cracked up!!
Darryl Siguenza
Former Employee Broadway, 1969

Spreading the Dick's philosophy
I remember when Warren Ghormley's was still a partner at Dick's and his sons Tom and Dave worked there. They were all there for years cooking great burgers and fries and teaching employees the philosophy of giving great service with a smile. Warren is a great man and was respected and admired by all. He used to visit all the stores just to say Hello. We used to sing "Its Warren Ghormley's Drive-In restaurant but the malt department is mine" (to the old Albertson commercial). I would like to thank him for all he's done in making Dick's a great memory for all and a great place to work. I would also like to thank Ralph Holbrook, Tom Ghormley and John Andrews, a few of the great managers that made my working days fun.
Candi Collier Ghormley Age: 33
Former Employee Queen Anne, 1977-1987

We can build another Dick's but good employees are hard to replace.
As I was running the grill the exhaust fan motor (on the roof) over-heated and we now had a fire. I went to tell Alane Diehl (night manager) and she called the fire dept. I knew I could crawl out the upstairs window and get onto the roof. I grabbed the fire extinguisher and ran upstairs and crawled onto the roof, put out the fire, stayed until firemen arrived, then crawled back into the upstairs window. I thought. I just saved the building from burning up. Alane was upset because she said to stay put.

The next day Dave Ghormley sat me down and explained that he was grateful except that I could have fallen or had a accident putting out the fire. He said, "We can replace the store, it wasn't worth the risk to my safety, that's what firemen are for."
Mark Stults Age: 38
Former Employee Broadway, 1973-74

He learned it all at Dick's
Growing up with cheeseburgers and shakes and fries. Dick's was my favorite. When I turned 17 I went to work at Broadway. Dave Ghormley taught people skills, working with efficiency, speed and timing. I worked hard, met great people, and have many fond memories that I tell to all my friends every time I come to Dick's. Alane and George Diehl became great friends. I still remember Bruce, Mark Kozu, the other Dave, the Belleuve store closing, and the Queen Anne store opening. Alane becoming manager of Broadway and George manager of Queen Anne. I attribute most of my interpersonal skills and work skills to Dave Ghormley. I later retired (1983) from Boeing and just live off my real estate investments. I thank you Dave for turning an excitable young man into what I am today. Now I am thinking of helping others to use the skills you taught me.
Mark Stults Age: 38
Former Employee Broadway 1973-74

If it's from Dick's, Mom, It's gotta be good
I remember the day my son Jonathan decided mustard was good because it was "Dick's" mustard. Plus my kids love coming here because Mom used to work here. Good luck and Happy 40th
Judy Lundquist Age: 34
Former Employee Wallingford, 1974-76

I don't understand why there were "Malt Girls," but no "Burger Boy."
Jana Lew Age: 36
Former Employee Broadway and Queen Anne, 1974-1977

Wanna make a bet?
One of my first outside employment opportunities was at the Broadway Dick's Drive-In when I was 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. Besides the well known fact that Dick's Drive-In paid better than the other fast-food restaurants they had a great logo: "Dick's is a great place to work." Working at Dick's helped establish my strong work ethic (which of course can't be learned from a book or in school). The experiences that I had helped me develop the skills, knowledge and abilities to persevere!

We had a terrific summer of 1975! Jana Lew, Otis Smith (who both became managers and stayed for several years past my short stint of duty) had a bet as to how many fish and chips we could eat at the waterfront Ivar's. In the course of conversation and of course because of our youth, we stated that we could eat at least five orders of Ivar's fish and chips! We even made a bet! Soon more wagers were made on our endeavor. I remember Otis sighing and saying that we should never say we could do something and then actually bet on it! He won the bet because we couldn't eat five orders. It turned out to be three, sigh, a lesson learned early on, courtesy of being an Employee of Dick's Drive-In Restaurants.
Jenny Goto Age: 34
Former Employee Broadway 1974-1975

Smuggling Dick's burgers to L.A.
For over thirty years, my nieces have visited my family from Southern California every summer. As children, my four nieces loved to get treats at the Wallingford Dick's Drive-In where I worked in 1958. Now as adults, they bring their spouses and children on nostalgia trips to Dick's on the way to our house in Stanwood. A trip to "Auntie Gail's" house is not complete without at least two trips to the Wallingford Dick's Drive-In.

After they fly into Sea-Tac Airport, my nieces always stop at the Wallingford Dick's and pick up one dozen cheeseburgers, and one dozen hamburgers. Once they get to our house they put them in the freezer and eat them as snacks during the rest of their stay. On the return trip to the airport, they buy another two dozen (or more) burgers, take them on the plane, and put them into their freezer at home in Los Angeles. That way, they can enjoy Dick's burgers throughout the year.
Gail (Zimmerman) Hermanson Age: 59
Former Employee Wallingford, 1958

Next: 40 Years of Memories