Dave McCleery started in the grocery business when he was 16 years old at the first B&R Store that is now Russ’s on 17th and Washington. His interview consisted of a two minute conversation with Russ Raybould, who was stocking his grocery shelves. The interview ended with Russ telling Dave to come work tomorrow at 4 pm. He enjoyed it from the first moment he clocked in and stayed with the company and is now a store manager. Founded in 1964 by Russ Raybould and Clayton Burnett, B&R Stores, Inc. is today an employee-owned corporation headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. The company currently owns 17 stores located in seven cities across Nebraska and Iowa and employs more than 2,000 people, nearly 1,000 of which are employee owners.
Tell us a little about your family.
I’m married to my wife Robin who teaches math at SCC. We have four grown children and two grandchildren with another on the way.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
I’ve been a swimmer my whole life and continue to work at that. I enjoy working around the house with my wife who’s handy with tools and can build a deck by herself. I also pick up the Highland Bagpipe from time to time, and enjoy going out with a medium format camera loaded with black and white film.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
That I was awarded the Mayor’s Art Award for Literature back in 1991 and had writing ambitions at one time.
What are you the most proud of?
Working for B&R Stores all these years and still being excited about the business.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
When bought my first car Russ asked me if “I owned the car or if the car owned me?” I smile about that from time to time.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life?
I have been told I can snore pretty well.
Which talent would you most like to have?
The gift of gab.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
Hard to say. I wake up early every morning so I can read quietly for 45 minutes to an hour before work. Right now on my Kindle I’m reading Ian Frazier’s Travels in Siberia, Shakespeare’s King Richard the III, and How the Beatles Destroyed Rock & Roll, by Elijah Wald.
What is your favorite movie?
I’ve always loved To Kill a Mockingbird.
What is your favorite TV show?
Deadwood. My wife and I have watched the series four times. It’s amazing. We quote from it to each other a couple times a week.
What is your favorite Lincoln restaurant?
The Indian Oven.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
My great-grandfather whom I did not know. His name was A.T. Hill and he was an archeologist here in Nebraska in the 1920s and 1930s.
If our readers wanted to reach you, how could they?
They can find us online at www.brstores.com.