The Segner Family Story
for E.L. Walker in San Antonio for
a few years as an apprentice, then
went out on his own in 1937. Doing
watchrepairwaspasseddown,and
we are still doing it today.”
“I was born in Fredericksburg, and
moved into this building when I
was seven months old. When I was
old enough, I came to work with my
mom and Dad every day. I always
knew, this was where I was going to
growup,andthiswaswhatIwasgoing to do: I really didn’t ever know
anything else. My training was in
watch repair, and that was my specialty. My Dad lost his eyesight in
1973, but he could still work with
his left eye. Dad loved the jewelry
end of it, and I liked the watch repair.”
The history of Fredericksburg has always been fascinating to me.
But Fredericksburg’s greatness, is a result of its’ extraordinary
people. Some families go back six to seven generations, and are
thebackboneofthecommunityandits’values.Familyandintegrityhavealwaysbeenparamountinthiscommunity,andnothing
reflects this example better than the family name of Segner.
I asked Sammy how the Segner“dynasty”evolved, and why it is
stronger than ever, even in these challenging times. His answer
was succinct and to the point:
“Well goodness…of course we had our ups and downs. We survived,becausewelearnedtoadjustourinventory:youknow,buy
smarter, not so risky. You stick with the basics: bread and butter
When you step into Segner’s Jewelers on West Main Street, you items that have a history of selling. And of course, the gold marcan feel a sense of community, and a dedication to service. Cus- ket always tends to stimulate the economy.
tomers walk in all day long and are greeted as friends.Their needs
areattendedtowiththesameserviceandcare,whethertheyneed I asked Sammy what he felt about the economy today, and he
to purchase a diamond, china, an heirloom clock, or to simply replied.
have a watch fixed.The root of integrity and family values, are the “Well, the economy inTexas, just doesn’t get hit like other places.
substance of what made Segner’s what it was in 1937, and what People are still working.The jobless rate is still low.When people
it is today. When I sat down with Sammy Segner, he told me how have work, they have an income. If we had a high jobless rate,
it all began.
that would be a different story. Fredericksburg is still thriving:
the whole state of Texas is thriving. We have had one of the best
“Mydad,JohnSegner,hadpoliowhenhewastwo,andhadtowear yearsweeverhad.Peoplestillhavebirthdays,anniversaries,they
braces. He was given the choice to be a typewriter repairman, still get married, and there is always a need in these areas. I guess
or a watch repair man: he obviously chose the latter. He worked it’s how you look at it: is the glass half empty, or half full?”
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Woman
TEXAS
FREDERICKSBURG
www.fbgwoman.com