David Leatherwood
David Leatherwood is retiring from the Food City in Hixson at the end of the month. David has helped feed our families for 52 years. He started with the Red Food Store while still a student at Hixson High School and went from bag boy to manager.
My father Charles was a regular customer at the Rivermont Store. Dad, who was in the grocery business in North Chattanooga for years, said Mr. Leatherwood was one of the last old fashion grocery store managers. Mr. Leatherwood was always interested in my father’s experiences in the food store business. Dad said Mr. Leatherwood would greet each customer with a smile and “is there anything I can help you with?”
Former State Rep. Richard Floyd knows Mr. Leatherwood well. Rep. Floyd said David always put the customer first. Rep. Floyd said, “Dedication would have to be David’s middle name”.
TV news anchor David Carroll said Mr. Leatherwood is a great guy and true friend. Mr. Leatherwood hosted an autograph party for Mr. Carroll when his books were released.
Mr. Leatherwood worked for Red Food Stores, BI-LO and now Food City. When David became a manager he didn’t stay behind a desk all day. Every job in the store was very important to him. I found him maybe in the deli, meat department, B-B-Q wagon, helping a customer find their favorite brand of chewing gum, taking inventory, cleaning up a broken jelly jar someone had dropped or relieving a clerk at the cash register for lunch. Employees would say “he always put us first”. During the recent toilet and paper towel COVID frenzy I found him one morning re-stocking the shelves before the store opened. David believed in helping the schools in his neighborhood. You would see him from time to time at a football or basketball game.
David was never too busy to stop and help customers. Grocery shopping just won't be the same without a smile and greeting from David Leatherwood at the Hixson store. We wish him the best as he transitions into the next chapter of life.
David, thanks for a job well done and to say your customers will miss you is an understatement.
Yes, David was one of my regular radio listeners for which I say “thanks”.
There will be a “Meet and Greet” on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 12-3 p.m. at the Clear Creek Church of Christ for Mr. Leatherwood. The public is invited. The church is located next to the Hixson store he manages.