Lyman Greer

Born in Broughton in 1900, Lyman had ideas of being a teacher while attending the elementary school, the three-year Broughton High School and one year at Southern Illinois Teachers College (now SIU), where he took special work to prepare him for a career in the classrooms. He taught one year (1918-19) at Hickory Corner, east of Broughton, and that was his entire experience as an educator.

Mr. Greer followed up his year of teaching by taking a job as bookkeeper and office manager of an electric and plumbing firm in Mt. Vernon which contracted for large building projects, such as courthouse and schools. After four years he moved to St. Louis to take a position in a bank, then joined the Kroger Company as a store manager, followed by a job with the Real Silk Hosiery Company of St. Louis as district manager.

His native Broughton beckoned him in 1938 to return and he took charge of the feed business with the Allen Company's general store, later becoming manager of the hardware department, where he remained until he went into business for himself in 1941. That venture was a combination garage, service station, feed store and produce station. Later he operated a general store in Broughton until 1948, when he joined the Kemper Insurance Group as district manager. After two years he moved from Broughton to Mt. Vernon as regional supervisor of the company. In 1955 he went to Norris City and started the Greer Insurance Agency.

(Part of an article from Eldorado Journal by William Searles)

Submitted by Silvetta Parsons