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Oscar S. Willenzik

1 byte added, 04:58, 6 August 2008
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'''Oscar Samuel Willenzik''' ([[1918]]-[[2007]]) was a Pensacola businessman who owned [[Pensacola Restaurant Supply]], or Penko, located in the [[Lewis Bear Building|Lewis Bear]] and [[Willko Building]]s on [[Palafox Place]] at [[Main Street|Main]].
Raised in Pensacola, Willenzik attended Tulane University and was valedictorian of his senior class, then studied law at the University of Florida. He served in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Returning to Pensacola, he and his father, [[William Willenzik|William]], launched the Pensacola Restaurant Supply Company on [[April 1]], [[1946]], and quickly expanded their business from 1,600 square feet to 36,500 square feet.<ref name="forsale">"Historic buildings for sale." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 11, 2003.</ref> Ownership expanded additionally to Oscar's brother, [[Norman Willenzik|Norman]] , by 1952. Company employees included Willenzik's sister-in-law, [[Carla Willenzik|Carla]], who was his secretary among other jobs at the store, and wife, [[Ethel Willenzik|Ethel]], who was the bookkeeper.
Facing an economic downturn in the new century, Willenzik consolidated much of his business and let go about half of his employees, including several family members<ref name="forsale"/>, including nephew-in-law and salesman [[Richard Haller]] and niece [[Marcy Friedman]] by 2002. Nephew-in-law [[Michael Friedman]] also left the business at this time, but was not let go. In October [[2006]], the [[City of Pensacola]]'s [[Code Enforcement Board]] cited the Willenziks for code violations on their two properties. Oscar wrote to the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' in response to the code citation:
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