Jacksonville Realtor Waltrip retiring after 48 years
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree, Reporter
Gale Waltrip is retiring after 48 years in the real estate business.
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree/Journal-Courier
Gale Waltrip has spent 48 years connecting people with their dream home. Beginning Dec. 16, he'll be spending more time at his own home.
Waltrip is retiring Dec. 16.
"I've enjoyed making people happy," Waltrip said. "I was helping find a house they loved and that would make them happy. I had so much repeat business and it makes me feel good because I was doing a good job for them."
Waltrip would love to keep going but his age and health are preventing him from continuing, he said.
"I'm 78 years old, so I'm not physically able to do some of it," Waltrip said.
For a long while, Waltrip was working with his son, Jim Waltrip. Jim Waltrip was doing a lot of the leg work for the business and Gale mostly acted as the bookkeeper, he said.
When Jim Waltrip died last year, Gale Waltrip realized he could no longer keep up, he said.
Waltrip has been in business in Jacksonville for 56 years, though not all of them have been in real estate. For the first eight years, Waltrip owned Gale's TV and Appliances and then was a co-owner of Don and Gale's Sports Shop.
"At the time I had the appliance store, a guy came along and asked to buy my business," Waltrip said. "I asked him how serious he was and he laid down a check."
After selling the appliance business, Waltrip went into business with Steve Hill and Harold Hill before moving on to his own business.
"I worked with so many young Realtors that eventually went out on their own," Waltrip said.
Waltrip has seen how the business has changed during his time as a Realtor, he said.
First, he said, the dress code has become more casual.
"The thing I remember is how we used to dress up — neckties, sports jackets — when we met with people and made a sale," Waltrip said.
Tthe value of homes also has changed drastically during his time, he said.
"A house we'd sell for $20,000 is now $70,000," Waltrip said. "Taxes have increased, from $800, now they are $2,500."
Though he is closing his business, Waltrip won't be idle, he said.
He no real plans yet but will come up with some, he said.
"I'll have to find something because I'm not one to sit around and watch TV all day," Waltrip said. "I've always been active."
Whatever he does, he hopes to continue to be around people, which was his favorite part of his real estate business, he said.
"I enjoy talking to people and I would have people that come in to see me just to talk," he said. "I have a lot of friends drop by when they are in town. This is the place they come to see me, so I'll have to find something new."
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree has been a reporter for the Journal-Courier since May 2014. She joined the staff after graduating from Eastern Illinois University. The Cahokia native worked with her school newspaper in various editor roles.