Who

Penny Dulock got her first job, as a waitress, when she was 15 and used the money she earned to buy her first car.
Jerry Larson / Waco Tribune-Herald

Penny Dulock, president, First American Title Co. of Waco, LLC. She has worked there for 25 years, starting as a bookkeeper and working her way up to becoming the president.

For the past five years, Dulock has served on the board of advisers for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

1st summer job

Worked as a waitress at the Country Cafe in Hubbard, a small community located between Waco and Corsicana, near Dawson. Her aunt was dining there when the business was in need of a waitress and recommended Dulock for the job.

Age

Dulock was 15 when she started working at the Country Cafe. She worked there to get a car and liked having her own money. Dulock served breakfast and lunch. Her hours were from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pay

She doesn’t remember the pay amount but said she was able to afford her first car at age 16 with the money she earned.

Dulock said she got a loan for the car by herself and paid the monthly payments of $65 with her paycheck.

Loved

“The people and the cooks,” Dulock said. “The cooks made the best gravy.”

She would eat a whole plate of french fries covered with gravy by herself, she said. The owner told her one day she couldn’t eat like that and, sure enough, she was right, Dulock said.

Hated

“I loved it all,” Dulock said.

She had a hard time finding anything not enjoyable because the customers, co-workers and owner were good to her.

Lessons learned

“Walk slow when carrying hot coffee,” Dulock said. “Have good work habits and save your money.”

Summer job advice

“Put so much of your money into savings and be smart with it,” Dulock said.

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