BENTONVILLE -- There's not much Troy Almand likes talking about more than God, his wife, Joan Clanton Almand, and Walmart founder Sam Walton.
"I learned a lot from Sam because he treated me more like a son than my own father did," Almand said.
Standing near the exit of the Walmart Museum on the Bentonville square Wednesday afternoon, Almand, 82, posed for pictures or shook hands with Sam's Club employees visiting for the annual shareholders meeting Friday.
Almand entertained employees who stopped to talk during their self-guided tour of the museum with stories about Walton and educated them on the early days of the company.
"I think it's nice that he's here so we can interact with someone from Sam's day," said Kathy Brown, a Walmart employee from Ohio who is attending shareholders week for the first time. "He's very funny and a likeable guy."
Almand started working for Walton as a 16-year-old after moving to Bentonville from New Mexico. For 30 cents an hour, Almand worked at the Walton 5&10 sweeping floors, waiting on customers, stocking shelves and making displays.
Though he worked for Walton for less than a year, Almand carried the lessons he learned into his own business, he said.
"I drank in his teaching, and what he got across to me is that this is a people business," Almand said. "In order to have repeat business, you have to treat customers with respect and consideration."
After working for Walton, Almand established his own business, Almand Tiling and Carpet, in his early 20s. The business did interior finishing projects before progressing to other types of construction and land development. When Walton began expanding the company throughout Northwest Arkansas, he often called upon Almand's business for help.
"We had established a trust way back when I was 16 years old," Almand said. "He never asked me how much, he just said, 'Send me a bill when you're finished,'" Almand said.
Almand got involved with the staff at the Walmart Museum after Jim Walton, Sam Walton's youngest son, sent Alan Dranow, senior director of the Walmart Heritage Group, a copy of a thank you note Almand sent to the Walton family. The letter, which was addressed to past, present and future members of the family, thanked them for the ways they had given back to the community. It also included stories and memories of Sam Walton.
"He witnessed the growth of Walmart first hand by putting the store together, and he witnessed the impact the Walton family had on this community," Dranow said. "He authenticates the humble beginnings of our company. He's a celebrity to anybody who appreciates the Walmart story or comes to the museum."
Though Almand stops by the museum occasionally to meet with visitors, Wednesday was his first appearance during shareholders week.
"As years pass, stories are going to get lost," Dranow said. "New associates have to learn the heritage of our company, and Troy is a key part of our past."
Almand will be back at the museum today to greet U.S. Walmart employees.
NW News on 06/04/2015