Spady Museum Archive

More than sixty years ago, if anyone had applied the word entrepreneurship to anyone, particularly to this young man, we would have thought they were speaking a foreign language. But Kenneth Gary exhibited this skill even before he became school age. He lived near Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Oscar Mansfield’s ice cream parlor. Both of these were leading businesses in the community and this is where he got his start. Kenneth earned the name “Penny” because he was resourceful. This little boy would lay in wait for the delivery trucks and offer to assist in carrying packages into the store; or run ahead of the delivery person and hold the door as the packages are carried in. He would also politely open the door for customers as they entered. As a result of these acts, people would give him money, one or two pennies, sometimes a nickel or maybe, big money, a dime.

Between deliveries he would go across the street to Mt. Olive Baptist Church and offer to help with whatever was going on. Rev. J.W. Keys would give him money and also gave him the name “Penny” because he always had at least a penny in his pocket.

Penny carried this initiative into adulthood where much of his life’s work as owner and operator of several food stores. However he fondly remembers the 1954 season when he worked in Manalapan as the chauffer for Irving Berlin. Penny opened his first store “Penny’s Superette”, in 1956. He sold his last store, “Evelyn’s Green Market” in 2000.

Penny is currently retired and lives in Delray Beach.