Clete Wandler sold his 36-year-old Carson City business, Comstock Distributing, to Model Dairy in July. Then he contributed $25,000 of the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada.
"This way, I know the money stays in Carson City," he said. "If I give it to a national organization like United Way, I don't know where it will end up."
Mary Pierczynski, a board member for the Boys & Girls Club, and superintendent of schools of Carson City, said the money will go toward construction of a much-needed facility. The club puts up tents on its campus during the summers because it lacks space for some activities, she said.
"From a school district perspective, we know how valuable the Boys and Girls Club is for our community," Pierczynski said. "Whenever the schools need anything, Comstock Distributing has been there to help out. They're a very generous family, and they're always anxious to help the children. This family really gives back to the community."
In addition to the $25,000 check, the Wandlers donated $5,000 to the Basque Festival, a benefit for St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.
Most of Carson City's streets (except Carson Street) were dirt and the city had about 8,000 people in 1967, when Wandler started his business. He owned one delivery truck, operating out of a building on Corbett Street.
"It was a one-man operation," he said. "I did the billing."
He now works out of a small, no-nonsense office on North Curry Street. He was upbeat, but said selling the business wasn't easy.
"I was the last independent distributor in Nevada, probably on the West Coast," he said. "I made a lot of great friends, met a lot of great people. I'm going to miss the business, and they hated to see us go."
Model Dairy is a subsidiary of Dean Foods, a national company.
"We'd been talking back and forth with them for about a year and a half so we knew the writing was on the wall," he said.
In addition to milk distribution, Wandler developed a Coca Cola, water and ice distribution business, which he passed on to his 31-year-old son, Troy. Wandler also owns the Silver Dollar Casino in Carson City, the Red Hawk Casino and the Depot Casino in Dayton.
Wandler grew up on a wheat farm near Hettinger, N. D. His wife, Georgetta, lived on a farm just 12 miles down the road.
Wandler said he enjoys fine dining and the picon punches at the J&T Bar in Gardnerville.