Have Your Ice Cream and Eat it Too

"He died at ninety-two, about a week after he got his diploma"

• Brent Sutherland
  

Have Your Ice Cream and Eat it Too

When I was in college I discovered an ice cream parlor that had the best ice cream I'd ever had. It was famous, iconic business on 2100 South Street in Salt Lake City called Snelgrove's. Everyone in town knew about it and recognized its huge ice cream cone sign as marking a place where you would receive superb service and exquisite ice cream made with the best ingredients available from family recipes.

It was created in 1928 by the Snelgrove family and by the time I discovered it, the business was moving into its third generation. But Laird Snelgrove, its second generation steward, was still actively involved in the day to day business. He knew every detail of the operation and treated every person working with him as a member of the family. And, he knew what "family" meant.

As a young man Laird enrolled in college at Utah State University. While he was in Logan studying, his father, the founder of Snelgrove's Ice Cream, called him home because he needed him to help run the business. And, without hesitation, Laird returned home and threw himself into the business.

He learned all he could learn from his father and worked tirelessly. By the time his father passed away Laird knew the business inside and out and had developed relationships with all of its customers. The business was a major part of his life, but it wasn't his whole life. He had made a commitment to himself to finish college so pressed on to get his degree.

Every small business owner knows how much time and effort is required to maintain and grow a business and Laird's commitment to complete college was tested. He took classes when he could, grew his business, raised his family and became an icon in his community. He never retired from his role in any of these areas of his life.

In fact, when he was ninety-two years old he completed his college degree at Brigham Young University to become the oldest graduate in school history! When he attended commencement he didn't attend alone. He was surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, business associates, employees and friends. He was surrounded by all the people in his life that he'd been teaching and mentoring over many years.

His graduation is the perfect example of how a person is a student and a teacher throughout life. His graduation is the perfect example what it means to be dedicated to personal dreams and goals while focusing on the important relationships in life.

So, if you've ever gotten to the point where you feel as if you're too old or too busy to do what you want with your life, don't give up. Just stop of a minute and remember that Laird Snelgrove received his college degree at ninety-two, spent the following week giving advice to his employees and then passed away having been true to himself and his family. Who said you can't have your cake; I mean ice cream and eat it too?