Good NewsQuikTrip makes man with Down syndrome an honorary employee at store opening
Albert Endrizzi, an Oklahoma man with Down syndrome, has been a fan of the Tulsa-based convenience-store chain QuikTrip for more than 30 years.
On Wednesday evening, QuikTrip chief financial officer Stuart Sullivan, who met Endrizzi 25 years ago through a Best Buddy program, made Endrizzi a surprise offer he couldn't refuse: to be an honorary employee at the opening of the chain's new store near Endrizzi's house.
"He mentioned to my wife that he wanted to come to the grand opening, and I came up with the idea of him potentially being the first customer. And then our division manager said, 'Wouldn't it be cool if he could actually ring up the first customer?'" Sullivan told Tulsa World.
The company gave Endrizzi an official uniform at the opening and had him help the first customer: Marc Delametter, who will retire next month from his position as the company’s controller and vice president of accounting.
"When we find somebody who loves QT as much as he does, we're going to do something nice for them," Delametter said. "For him to get to be the clerk that sells me my stuff — that made it just that much better for me."
QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh said people often send requests to be the first customer at the chain's new stores, so it was "fun" to make someone an honorary employee instead.
