At Cheney Les Schwab, it's Sparky and just Sparky

Walk into Cheney's Les Schwab store and ask for Ferrel Kaminski, and you'll likely get some blank stares from the staff.

Walk in and ask for Sparky, and you'll eventually come face to face with a smiling, affable chap with close-cropped hair and ready handshake. The two, Kaminski and Sparky, are one and the same, although the new manager of Cheney's store not only goes by the latter, but also has identification to prove it.

"I was getting checks with birthday money made out to Sparky," he said. "So I changed it on my driver's license."

Originally from a small town outside Helena, Mont. called Townsend, Sparky began his Les Schwab career at a store in the state capital, working there for 13 years. He then transferred to a store in Hailey, Idaho where he was the assistant manager for six and a half years before becoming the manager at a Les Schwab branch in Puyallup, Wash. three years ago.

When the managerial opening at the Cheney Les Schwab came open recently, he decided to apply for it since it would position him, his wife and two children halfway between relatives in Montana and in the Seattle area. The position also offered a more attractive sales mixture between city drivers and rural drivers and - most importantly - presented the opportunity to return to living in a small town.

"My wife has only been here two days, one when we looked at the store and the other at the rental and she says, 'This feels more like home,'" Sparky said.

Both of the couple's children are out of the home, with their 21-year-old son working at Les Schwab in Montana so that he can qualify to attend Montana State University while their 19-year-old daughter is still considering her options - including school in France, Italy or enrolling at Eastern Washington University.

"She's changed her mind so many times," Sparky says laughing. "Her mom's always asking, 'What's the plan this week?'"

Sparky has been at Cheney Les Schwab since Jan. 19, making weekend trips back to Puyallup to bring over items, including a pair of vintage automobiles - a 1969 Chevy Camaro and a 1970 Dodge Challenger. Other hobbies include hunting and fishing, especially the latter in the form of fly-fishing which both he and his son enjoy.

As to how and when he got his nickname, Sparky isn't exactly sure, although Les Schwab customers may be able to guess.

"I've went by Sparky since I was so high," he says, holding his hand about 2-3 feet off the floor.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].