My father, Frank Dykes, passed away peacefully at his home in Brundidge, Alabama at the age of 89. He was a WWII Navy Vet, serving in the Pacific the last 2 years of the war. The GI bill enabled him to attend Auburn where he graduated with a degree in Pharmacy.
He was BIGJOE without the caps. Below is a tribute posted on FaceBook in his honor:
We lost another good one today. Frank Dykes hired me as a 15 year old high school kid. I knew absolutely nothing about a pharmacy, but I had to learn because he was tough! I learned the proper way to sweep and mop the floor (never knew there was a certain way). He made sure the money faced the same direction, he did not allow a calculator or cash register to figure out change, that's what your brain is for. We always left $50 in the register and left it open overnight, if someone broke in, there was no need to destroy a $1,000 register over $50! I saw him firmly remind people to pay their bills, while still taking care of their healthcare needs. And the music, if I never hear Engelbert Humperdinck again, I will be just fine! Once Melanie Hawkins bought the store and he came to work for her, I could not believe how laid back he was. He was a different man, I realized at that point how the stress of owning a small business was so much different than working at a small business. It's safe to say that Jones Medical Supply would have never been created if Mr. Frank had not hired this 15 year old. We still use many of the same practices I learned 20 years ago, if you break in my store, all you will get is $50, but all the bills will be facing the same direction! RIP Mr. Frank!
Sorry for the length. War Eagle, Daddy. War Eagle Forever!
