This month we celebrate the joyful story of Gladys Warren and Murrel Hill.
Gladys and Murrel met at Goodwill and married. While looking through our Goodwill archives a few years ago, we found photos of Gladys and Warren’s honeymoon trip and holiday parties that they shared with their coworkers at Goodwill.
A newspaper article appearing in the Spokane Chronicle in 1957 tells their story, with the title “Pair Find Home, Hope at Goodwill.”
Gladys
Gladys started a career in show business at the age of 19. As a dancer, she performed for many years in theatres in Spokane and nationally. But, while vacationing in 1937, Gladys struck her head while diving into a lake and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. She told the Chronicle “The doctors help little hope for my survival, for my entire right side was paralyzed, but within two months I had overcome the temporary loss of speech.
Gladys saved her money for 23 years and was finally able to return to Spokane in May 1955. She got a job at Goodwill, sorting donations. It was there that Gladys met her soon-to-be husband, Murrel.
Murrel
Murrel contracted polio at age 3 when an epidemic hit Cottonwood, Idaho. The virus left him with one leg shorter, needing crutches, a brace, or a built-up shoe. He also injured both arms later in life. Despite these challenges, Murrel worked hard labor jobs, including cattle work, mechanics, and as a boiler fireman at Mountain Home Air Base during WWII.
Murrell came to work at Goodwill in Spokane in 1955. After learning to repair electrical appliances, he became supervisor of the electrical and mechanical repair departments. At one time, Goodwill taught people electrical and mechanical repair work so people who had employment barriers could learn job skills and earn a paycheck. They repaired donated items and then sold them in the Goodwill stores.
Murrel was at one time named Employee of the Year for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest. He was presented the award at a Press Luncheon with Goodwill Board members and staff present.