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Tab Turner
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
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December 10, 2006--How many of us are really doing what we want to do? We work at jobs to bring income, yet put our dreams on hold…because we’re afraid to take a chance. Tab Turner in Norwich decided to take that chance. He gave up a good job in the aircraft industry…..for life in a very small town. |
“I think it is a passion for the town. A town that didn’t have anything.”
If there is a man busier man than Tab Turner in Norwich, Kansas, he might be hard to find. Tab is not only the Fire Chief ----
‘It takes a lot of volunteers to make a small town work.”
But this year, along with his wife Denise, started two new businesses. One of the two is this little soda shop called ‘Reds’ on Norwich’s main street.
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“We had lost our post office, our grocery store and our café and we really didn’t have any place for people to go visit and socialize.
‘Whatever comes out of the oven…Canadian Bacon is fine.”
“This has provided that I hope.”
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Tab left a good paying job as a computer programmer at Boeing to follow his dreams…and a place like this is what he dreamed about.
“I just couldn’t imagine continuing in the same job for years and years. All my local friends who helped me build this place were very supportive. My expectations were met. That doesn’t happen very often, but I feel like they were met on this project.”
Tab is a non-stop worker.…and some wonder why. Five years ago, his son Cory was critically injured in an ATV accident. He’s OK now and a student at Pratt Community College.
“That was a hurt like no other when my son was in the hospital for five weeks. In and out of comas and to not know if he was going to live or not. A lot of my inspiration today comes from the fact that this isn’t a ‘practiced’ life. It’s the only shot we get. To about lose a child changed the way I look at things.”
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Norwich is a town of about 500 people south and west of Wichita. It has some old buildings…and some modern active businesses…but it is not the kind of place where dreams are made….except if you are Tab Turner.
“In order to start two businesses at the same time, it’s taken a lot of patience from everybody and it’s taken a lot of support from the community and friends just to put this deal together. |
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Without that it wouldn’t be where it is today.”
Tab Turner doesn’t see problems…he sees solutions – and friends who have helped him make his dream come true.
“Do it while you are younger, it’s OK. I’m 43, there is life outside the plants. You know, you can survive outside of there.” |
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