Rod's Quick Stop formally Anita's was purchased from Paul Fisher Oil in Jan. 2003. The building originally was the Billups station with a three car garage used for mechanic work. The north side of the building was a separate storage facility that housed the products that was sold on a everyday bases. Stories tell it that there might have been some late night card games that went on in the building, I have no idea if this is true or a fable. If you have any facts or fables, maybe some photos, please contact me and I will add them to this site.
Along with the store there is 92 self storage units that vary in size from 7x13 to 10x20. So if you have a need to storage those in the way things or you are moving a need a place for a short time come by and see us.
From time to time it is necessary to sale some of the unwanted property that is left behind or due to non payment of rent, which I regret doing, so watch the local Independent Appeal and for the sign in front of the store for dates and times.
In the first few months after purchasing the store it was tough going but with the help of all the customers that became friends we are going strong. I would like to thank everyone for coming in and doing business with us.
I was born in a little farming town known as Avon, Il. in the year of 1952 to Luther and Ila Murray. My dad taught me that a man's word was as good as his name. If he told someone that he was going to do something he stuck to that word. I to try to live by that.
While in school at Avon I was in most of the sports there: baseball, basketball, football and track. My really only outstanding accomplishment was in track where I was lucky enough to set the school record in the 440 yard dash at 49.6 seconds. I guess running after all those farm animals got me in shape for that.
We had the local 4-H club which I belong to and my main subject was cattle. We would take them to the county fair in Lewistown, Il. and to the local fair, Avon Fat Steer Show, at the steer show we had to sell the steers to the highest bidder. When I was younger that was hard to do since they became more like pets than livestock.
In 1971 I graduated from Avon High School and went on to join the United States Air Force. I was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base which is no longer there. I also got to spend some time in South East Asia during the Vietnam War. Due to the nature of my job classification I was released on an early out when the war came to an end. After getting home I decided to move to Columbus, Ms where my brother, Roger, lived. There is where I started my 29 years of being on the road as a truck driver. In 1975 I meant my wonderful Claudette and we were married on Jan. 18th, 1980. (How she has put up with me for so many years is still a puzzle to me.) In 1988 we moved to Selmer where I went on to drive for trucking companies here in Tn. and for a short time drove for Mark Martins dad at JMT until Mr. Martin closed the doors. Claudette went to work at Brown Shoe and than on to Contactor Castings until we purchased Rod's Quick Stop. Claudette was born here in Selmer on the 10th day of Oct. 1952 and most of her family is living here. She graduated from Morton High School in Morton, IL were her dad worked for Caterpillar for some years. Even thou Morton was just 60 miles from Avon we never meant.
We have two little spoiled Jack Russel Terriers, Diamond & Freckle. You can see photos of them in the photo gallery. We also had two Labs, Bo and Bonnie but they have gone to doggie heaven and we do miss them everyday.
That is all for now but stay tune for updates at any moment and thank you for stopping by, make sure to tell all your friends to check us out.