“He was a fighter and a seller,” Lee said. “He fought with competitors, lawyers and banks. He fought with me a lot. Those aren’t bad memories, just intense.
“He was a product of the Depression, and a talker. He would talk to anyone about anything. And he was funny.”
Eugene Schear, who died Saturday in Florida at age 94, also sold a lot of groceries, for years operating the Liberal Markets chain founded by his father, Abe, in 1921. It grew to 48 stores before being sold in the early 1980s when it also had outlets in Cincinnati, Springfield, Middleton, Hamilton and other nearby towns.
Eventualy, Eugene Schear bought several ranches. At one time, he owned 12, calling them Schearbrook Farms in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Montana, Ohio, Costa Rica and Panama.
The farms raised cattle for the stores and were among the 10 largest Angus ranches in the country. He sold a share of one of his championship bulls to President Dwight Eisenhower.
Eugene Schear was president and general manager of the markets, and although he never really retired, he and his wife of 64 years, Doris, moved to Florida 30 years ago where he developed Shearbrooke Estates in Palm Beach County, a golf club and housing development.
He also had other businesses, including the Concord City Discount Department Store.
Even though he was an Ohio State fan, he attended the University of Michigan for a year before transferring to OSU, where he graduated in business. Shortly afterwards he joined the Army Air Corps and served in WWII. After the war, he returned to the markets, where he had worked since he began sweeping floors there as a 10-year-old.
One of six brothers and two sisters, he was the last of his generation and was proud of his family, including Lee (wife Patti) and daughter Micki (Michael) and five grandchildren.
Although not a particularly religious man, Eugene was close to Jewish causes and was philanthropic toward them.
He remained sharp of mind to the end. Only his body gave out.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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