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Anyone who recalls when Randy's Olde Towne Service was known as Crandall's Super Service will tell you: you simply cannot mention this historic gas station without also highlighting its dedicated owner. Indeed, memories of Curley Crandall, who passed away in August 1995, seem to permeate the beautifully preserved building at the corner of Eighth and Union Streets in Traverse City, Mich. Need proof? Just look at one of the doors, where the metal bottom is indented from all the times Curley kicked it open in his hurry to pump gas for customers.

"We left that as a charming reminder of Curley," said owner Randy Schmerheim, who acquired the station from Crandall in the early 1990s. "Hewas always eager to assist people; for him, it was about the customers above all else. He didn’t label it 'Super Service' for nothing."

Schmerheim witnessed Crandall's genuine care for his patrons firsthand, first as a competitor and later as his boss. In the late 1980s, Schmerheim ran a Shell station directly across the street from Crandall's Mobil, and when Crandall decided to close his fuel pumps in 1992, he leased the building to Schmerheim and subsequently went to work for him—pumping gas, of course. "He would have worked for free, but I just couldn't allow that," Schmerheim recalled. "He loved staying active. I suggested he work just a few hours a week, yet he showed up every morning, like clockwork."

In addition to providing gasoline, Crandall’s Super Service offered "Washing, Greasing, Batteries, Tires"—a sign that has remained visible above the three large roll-up garage doors for 75 years. However, the station's true treasure was Curley himself. His daughters thought they understood his significance, but after his passing, they discovered even more reasons he was cherished. "People shared many stories with us," Nancy explained. "If someone couldn’t afford gas, Dad would say, 'We can settle up on payday.' When migrant workers were ready to head south, he wouldn’t let them leave on unsafe tires. He'd ensure their safety. He extended credit with nothing more than a handshake, not even an IOU. And he never boasted about these deeds; he simply did what he believed was right. He was truly an exceptional person." In 1987, Curley’s station was inducted into the State Register of Historic Places, a testament to the lasting impact he made on the community of Traverse City, Mich.