A man for all pizzas

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 4/7/22

Richard Elston never thought when he came to Mineola from Denton in 1991 to manage the local Pizza Hut he would spend the rest of his working life here – and become an institution.

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A man for all pizzas

Posted

Richard Elston never thought when he came to Mineola from Denton in 1991 to manage the local Pizza Hut he would spend the rest of his working life here – and become an institution.

Managers average about 3-4 years, he said. When he arrived, the six-year-old store had already had three managers.

But he and his family found a welcoming, friendly community.

And Monday at 2 p.m., he walked out the door for a final time. No evening shift requiring his return.

The culture and the community helped keep the Elstons here, and he said that in those 31 years Mineola has gotten even better. He’s happy to see many of the improvements over the years.

Elston leaves the establishment in the capable hands of Tracey Allen as the new manager. She knows the location well, having worked alongside Elston for 13-14 years.

During those many years the Pizza Hut has cooked thousands of pizzas – some of which have been donated or sold at a discount to various community causes and groups.

The store goes through 3,000 to 4,000 pizzas a week, which for an average over 31 years amounts to somewhere around five million pizzas.

Elston said they looked at the amount of cheese one time and it came to 26 tons a year, about 1,000 pounds a week.

Pizza Hut has offered a first-time job to many Mineola and area youngsters.

Indeed, Elston says that’s one of the company’s jobs, to give a chance to those just starting to earn a paycheck.

He said it is great to see a young person grow in confidence as they learn new skills – including some good life skills. Some of those youth just take off from there, he said.

But it is time, he said to turn it all over to someone else, now that he’s 65.

It would have been a full 31 years on the job as of June, but he said he was ready.

His exit has been made much more of a big deal than he could have expected, said the unassuming Elston.