Bob Whittenberg has had several careers — none as long as the one he’s in now — which he calls “kind of a dying business.”

His Central Meat Co., at 1010 W. Broadway opened in Muskogee in 1892. At that time it had rabbits and wild game hanging on the wall.

The business is family owned. Whittenberg managed a finance company for six years, and earlier he worked at General Dynamics.

He and his family were working out of state when his father-in-law, Oscar Calvin “O.C.” Walker, decided it was getting time to retire. He asked Whittenberg if he didn’t think it was time to “learn this business.”

Whittenberg had been driving about 20 miles on a six-lane highway in heavy traffic every day. Sometimes it took over an hour to get home. It was time.

Whittenberg and his wife, Marilyn, now own and operate the small store known for its quality meat. She works along side him. He said they’ve never had a fight.

“He’s 73 and he still works 55 to 60 hours a week,” said his daughter, Marsha Murry, who started working at Central Meat Co., on Saturdays when she was 11.

“During the summers, I came down here with him every day.”

She’s still there and does everything — from cut and slice meat to doing the books and ordering.

Her son, Bryan, 20, started helping out in the store at age 8. He’s learned the trade. Whether he’ll stick with it is yet to be seen, but he was busy cutting meat and waiting on customers Friday.

Marsha said her father is amazing.

“He’s got so much strength in him, which is encouraging,” she said. “To top it off, he’s the greatest dad in the world.”

Tears fell from her face as she talked about the father she admires so very much.

She said he’s always jolly and fun to work with.

“He can be hurting so bad he can hardly walk, and he’s just as happy go lucky as he is when he’s feeling good,” she said, wiping away tears.

Whittenberg arrives at the meat market most days at 6 a.m. He cuts meat for the counter and for regular customers — which include some restaurants and many individuals.



Recalling childhood

in area still a thrill

As a boy, Bob Whittenberg always lived in the country — in Wagoner County and later near Checotah.

There were 200 families within about a five-mile radius, and his family knew everyone around.

“Two or three times a week we were visiting someone or someone was visiting us,” he said. “We’d take our ice cream freezer. Me and my brother got to turn the freezer and sit on it.”

He remembers getting a lot of discipline, a lot of farm work and he and his brother going to Muskogee about once a month — with $1 each.

“We’d start at the White Owl Restaurant by the viaduct on Court Street. We’d each have two hamburgers for 25 cents.

“We’d go across the street and get a haircut — that was 25 cents. Next it was the Okla Theater — 10 cents.”

Then it was on to the next theater, where they watched westerns for another 10 cents and then to the Ritz Theater for 10 cents.

Purity Drug was next on the agenda for a double-dip ice cream.

“We still had money left. We couldn’t spend a dollar bill in a day. It was 1943 or 1944.”





Family all wrapped

up in meat business

Bob Whittenberg wanted his kids to be raised around their grandparents, and it was one reason he returned to Muskogee.

“It was one of the best things I ever did,” he said.

His son Doug knows the business and may or may not take it over someday.

“I don’t really want him to work as hard as I work,” Whittenberg said. “If he wanted the business, I wouldn’t be opposed to it. But it’s really hard work.”

Whittenberg said he never had enjoyed sitting at a desk.

“I’ve enjoyed this,” he said, looking around the shop.

He arrives at work at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, it’s 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those were the hours when he bought the store.

After he finished chatting with customers, he said, “I enjoy coming down here — I’ve always enjoyed coming down here.”

He said he’ll keep coming to the meat market “until I can’t.”

He’s had some heart problems, has diabetes, and “this (market) keeps me going.”



Quality is what

is important

“Chain stores have made it a lot harder on an individual to stay in business — hard to compete,” Bob Whittenberg said.

He credits his success to selling quality meat.

“Don’t ever get away from quality,” he said. “If you don’t get a quality piece of meat — there’s not much you can do with it.”

A lot of people don’t know what good quality meat is, he said.

“You can do it (stay in business) as long as there are people who want good, quality meat.”

Kenny Greer, owner of Mahylon’s, knows what it is and where to find it. He was picking up steaks at Central Meat Co., for his restaurant early Friday.

Rosa Derrick of Muskogee was smiling and talking to Whittenberg as he prepared her order.

“I’ve been coming in forever and forever — and I’m 77,” she said, grinning.

Alfred Ousley was after mild links, telling Whittenberg if he accidentally got hot links, he’d be back after the first bite.

Whittenberg said his free-range chickens don’t have hormone shots pumped into them.

“They’re like mother used to raise,” he said.

He’s careful about his meat.



How did you come to be an Okie from Muskogee?

“Moved across the river.”



WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR FREE TIME?

“My friend Perry Elliott and I like to go watch horse racing.”



How do you make a living in Muskogee?

“Co-owner and operator of Central Meat Co.”



What would make Muskogee a better place to live?

“Muskogee is getting better. It’s community oriented.”



Is there an Okie from Muskogee who you admire?

“I always admired my father-in-law, Oscar Calvin “O.C.” Walker.



What’s the most memorable thing that has happened to you since you have lived in Muskogee?

“The early years of my life I discovered how a cotton gin operated and got to see a lot of things in John Griffin’s place.”



How would you sum up Muskogee in 25 words or less?

“It’s a great place to raise your family and a great place to live. There’s a lot of good people here. Our way of life here may not be perfect, but we don’t have too many problems here.”



Meet Bobbie Gene “Bob” Whittenberg

AGE: 73.

HOMETOWN: Wagoner County, farm near the Arkansas River.

CAREER: Owner-operator of Central Meat Co., Muskogee.

EDUCATION: Checotah High School and attended classes at Connors College.

FAMILY: Wife, Marilyn Louise (Walker), two daughters, one son, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren (twins).

CHURCH: Lutheran.

HOBBIES: Likes to go to horse races. When younger, Bob would hunt and fish. He once was a member of the Muskogee Boat Club.