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8 SOUTHERN SENIOR MAGAZINE | Fall 2022 A.P. worked as an industrial salesman for Gulf Oil call- ing on factories and industry for three years. Their third child, Kathy, was born while they lived in Hattiesburg. In February of 1963, two events occurred that would lead to the Guizerix family coming to Picayune. “I was twenty-seven years old at the time. Mr. Foots Hill, who was the local Gulf Oil distributor in Picayune, had died. At around the same time, NASA was ramping up for the Mississippi Test Facility (now Stennis Space Cen- ter). I told my boss I wanted to buy the distributorship in Picayune and move there because you Gulf Oil was going to need somebody to get all of those contractors at MTF as customers. Let me buy it, tell those salespeople to leave me alone, and I’ll get the business. At first, his boss said there was no way that would work. The more we talked, the boss, the ex-Marine came around to A.P.’s idea and said ‘Dammit, A.P., that might work’.” Pat and A.P. were excited because they viewed Picayune as “halfway to home” referring to New Orleans. The plan he had discussed with his former boss was implemented and A.P. went to work for himself in Picayune. He didn’t take long to get things lined up as he had told his former boss he would. “I went to Nicholson and talked to the guy who was living there and overseeing the railroad connection to NASA where all of the equipment for the construction would come in off the rail. I found when the trains would be coming in and I was ready when they arrived. I deter- mined who was in charge and told them what oil and lu- bricants, and this filter, and so on that they would need for their machinery. I told them I could have it here before 5 p.m. today. He never asked me the price. He says to me ‘you have the business’. Over the years of construction and beyond, my business (APG Gulf) supplied over 80 percent of the lubricants and related supplies,” A.P. explained. Their fourth child, Tricia, was born in Picayune, and A.P. added “She’s the only native”. A.P. said Pat was more involved than one might realize in the success and sustainment of the business. The challenges came about because of A.P.’s Naval commit- ment. A.P. had stayed in the Naval Reserve over the years. During the Vietnam War, he was recalled six times for two to four weeks. He said the Navy claimed they never did any recalls during the Vietnam War, but A.P. said that wasn’t accurate. This happened to him about six times shortly after he had secured the new business. “Pat was so critical to the success of the business and the employees respected her because of how she han- dled things. I remember one time when I had returned from one of my recalls. I noticed someone driving one of our trucks that I didn’t recognize. The office secretary said one of the drivers had given her some lip and a hard time about a portion of a route he didn’t want to do any- more. The secretary said she called Pat and told her what happened. Pat came to the business, questioned the driver to hear his side of the story, which was almost exactly as the secretary had stated. She asked the driver one last time if he was going to do his job as was re- quired. He started complaining and Pat turned to the sec- retary and told her to call the employment office to see if they had anyone who had applied as a truck driver. She turned back to the driver and told him he was no longer employed here and his check would be waiting for him on Friday,” A.P stated. Pat was one of the founders of Junior Auxiliary in Picayune. So here was Pat, active in Junior Auxiliary and other community activities, very busy raising four chil- dren, and running the business as needed. At church, she taught Catechism and was also Cub Scout leader for Skipper’s troop, Den mother coach for other troops, and found time to be heavily involved in Girl Scout cookie sales. A.P. has been a member of the Rotary Club of Picayune since January of 1964 and has received numerous civic awards including Citizen of the Year in 1991. He stayed in the Naval Reserve for twenty-three years where he at- tained the rank of Captain. Together, they have taught ‘The Spiritual Side of Mar- riage’ which is part of the Marriage Encounter program through the Diocese of Biloxi for over twenty years. “During those sessions, we covered a lot of material. While he was separated in a different room with just the grooms to be, I stressed to them how they must treat their wife as a gift from God.”, A.P. said of those sessions. “Picayune was a good place to raise a family. Our kids could walk to school. Picayune has been a great home for us,” Pat stated with a big smile. So what has made it work? “I think my advice to someone just getting married is this. Treat your spouse like you treated them on the first date; be polite, courteous, just plain old-fashioned kind. Now we don’t always do that, but we sure try. It takes effort,” Pat shared. “If you see us in church, or walking somewhere, unless we are holding something, we hold hands. It’s contact. It started when we were dating, “ A.P. said. Pat said, “Find a place or time to pray together even if just briefly.”