Perry Tells Story of Success in Shorts

By Van Colotta
The Leader

Billy Perry has probably squeezed what would be 10 lifetimes for the average person into his 67 years.

But Perry is not your average person.

A man who has risen from the most modest beginnings to become one of Mississippi's most successful self-made businessmen, Perry has practically done it all. From cutting lawns in the sweltering Delta heat to selling cats, dogs and even monkeys from a pet shop, this former self-described milkman for Denton's Dairy has dined with governors and traveled the world.

"I've been a lot of places, but I keep coming home," he said. "There's no place like Cleveland, Mississippi."

And it is in his beloved Cleveland where Perry has left his mark.

While he is now slowly matriculating out of the commercial real estate market, Perry has played a vital role in keeping Cleveland's downtown business district vibrant and its buildings occupied for more than a quarter of a century. He is extremely proud of the Billy and Mary K Perry Critical Needs Fund he established with an endowment to Delta State University several years ago. He has been the incubator for countless business start-ups in the community and is always willing to offer his advice to fledgling entrepreneuers. Yet most of Perry's charitable contributions and acts of kindness go unnoticed and untold.

Why?

Because he wants no credit.

"I just like to see people who might not otherwise have an opportunity be given a chance," he related. "I had some folks that gave me a chance or two along the way."

Perry recently sat down with the Sunday Leader to answer our questions about his life and career.

Have you lived in Cleveland all your life?

No. My family moved here when I was 10 because my daddy went to work for sheriff Willie Earl Kent. That was 1952. I was actually born in Greenwood.

Where did you go to school?

After going to school in several different places around the Delta, I graduated high school from Lula-Rich High School.

What was the thing you remember most about your high school years?

I met my future wife, Mary K Alexander in the 10th grade at Lula-Rich.

Name a few of the jobs and businesses you have been involved with over the years?

Well my first job I guess was selling watermelons out of my 1950 model Chevy convertible. Then I mopped floors and stocked shelves at Bing's Grocery. Then I was a farm manager.

After that I started off as a janitor at Denton's Milk company and later worked my way up to becoming sales manager. When I left there, I opened a pet shop and cut grass on the side. I've been a pawn shop owner and landlord, too. To name a few.

What convinced you to go into business for yourself?

After attending a Dale Carnegie course, I decided to go to work for myself. It seemed Cleveland needed a pet shop.

It started out in my garage, and before we realized it, we were making more money selling and grooming animals than I was mowing yards. We opened the shop at the end of Cotton Row and sold out of all our pets the first day we were open. We later opened a second one in Clarksdale six months later and sold both stores less than two years after that.

What was your next business venture?

Well in 1974 we opened Billy Perry Pawn Shop.

Why?

Because when I was younger I would hang around my uncle Cleveland Aisnworth, who was a trader of sorts...livestock, produce and things like that. I enjoyed watching him trade and barter his items. I also had made a few friends on my milk route that were pawn shop owners, and they fascinated me, So I went to the library and checked out a book on how to operate a pawn shop and opened one up. Then two, three and so on.
What were your first property investments?

Harry Ward owned eight stores down Sharpe Avenue, and he helped me get the financing to purchase those properties. I would fix one up and rent it out then another until I had them all rented out. I was able to pay off the original loan in just two years. Then I started investing in rental properties in Clarksdale, Greenwood, Greenville and Cleveland; all places where I owned pawn shops.

How would you best describe the difference in Downtown Cleveland in 1974 to now?

When I started in 1974, I thought Cleveland was the best town in the world. But there were a lot of buildings left vacant. Some corporately-owned businesses had moved out to the highway while some just closed. Now downtown is thriving with most of it fully occupied. Most of the stores are run and owned by local merchants. That's good, because we are doing a whole lot better than some other Delta area downtowns.

In your opinion, what should Cleveland do to keep itself moving forward in a positive way?

Elect the best aldermen, mayor and sheriff. Have the best police chief to keep this area safe and keep it moving in that positive direction. Also, we should hire a person that will go out and recruit new businesses and industries to come here. Someone who will promote our city to other places and people as a great place to live. Someone who has to work every day with the burden of accountability and production on his shoulders. I don't believe we have that in Cleveland right now and it hurts us.

I know you have run for public office before. Are there anymore political ambitions for you?

No. I want good people in there, but I won't seek election.

What are your plans for the future?

I'll work until the day I die. I'll work on my rental properties, sell some more of my commercial properties; and that's enough to keep me busy

It is well known around Cleveland that you and your wife are big supporters of Delta State University. How did that happen?

It grew from my friendships with Margaret Wade and Boo Ferris and some of the girls who played for Margaret and just grew from there.

You and Mrs. Perry started a fund for DSU students who need a helping hand.

Yes. It's called the Billy and Mary K. Critical Needs Fund, and it help students that need just a little money to help them get through. It pays out no more than $500, and it has helped many students throughout the years. We also need contributors if anyone would like to donate to the fund.

What is the deal about you walking every where?

I have always walked a lot, I like the exercise. Then a year and a half ago I needed triple bypass surgery. Now my health is good and my heart is 100 percent. I want to keep it that way as long as the Good Lord will let me stay here.

Spring is here and the weather is warming up. Now tell us about those coaching shorts you wear all the time.

Everyone makes fun of my shorts and my legs. They say they look like toothpicks. The shorts are comfortable, and it definitely gets hot around here. I guess I'll keep wearing them.