The Zales Jewelry Stores website mentions that they are officially celebrating 100 years of business in 2024. But is that historically accurate?
Zales is basing their anniversary on is a Texas State Historical marker dedicated in 2016 in Wichita Falls, honoring Morris Bernard Zalefsky [1901-1995]. The marker’s words show: “began to learn the jewelry trade from his uncle, Sam Kruger. Zalefsky opened his own store inside a drug store in Graham, but due to Klu Klux Klan activity in the area, he returned to Wichita Falls in 1924. Zalesfsky Americanized his name to Zale, opened his own store at this location on March 29, 1924, and created the Zale Jewelry Company with his family.”
In my opinion, the State Historical Marker creates a narrative that encourages the historical recognition of a building in Wichita Falls, but intentionally omits some historical facts.
The first mention of the Zale Jewelry Company’s existence is in Graham on November 23, 1922, in the Graham Leader newspaper.
I’m guessing everyone noticed that fact was omitted in the State Marker. Morris Zalesfsky had already changed his name to Morris Zale before he came to Graham, not as the marker suggests.
What about the influence of the Ku Klux Klan, as the marker suggests? It is evident from photos and lists of members that this group was influential in Young County and Wichita County. But contrary to the marker, in my opinion, Morris Zale moved to Wichita Falls for another reason.
In 1972, Loren Maples and E. Bruce Street, Jr, invited Morris Zale to return to Graham to participate in our Centennial. His reply was, “I have many fond memories of my first venture in the jewelry business, working from a counter in City Drug Store. This was the beginning of our great group of stores we now operate all over America. Much credit is due to the old timers of Graham, who gave me encouragement and friendship when needed. “I’ll never forget the meaning it holds for me and my family.” Morris Zale.
From his letter, it doesn’t appear that Morris Zale left Graham due to outside influences as much as a business decision. But then, that narrative doesn’t fit well with a building in Wichita Falls, now, does it?
In 2002, the Zale Corporation commissioned a video on the legacy of the company. I was contacted by the writers for primary evidence on the Zale company in Graham. From my participation in that video, years later, I had a telephone interview with Donald Zale, the son of Morris Zale, concerning the Graham years. Mr. Zale said that his father left Graham as a business decision. Morris Zale’s uncle, Sam Kruger, offered to loan him the money to open his own building in Wichita Falls for Zale’s Jewelry, and the rest is history.
Congratulations, Zale’s Jewelry, on celebrating your 102nd anniversary this year.