Former owner of Burroughs Appliance dies on his birthday
BETTY TYLER, News Editor
Article Launched: 05/17/2007 02:56:23 PM PDT


John A. Lehman, a longtime Redlands businessman who was active in the community, died on his 81st birthday, May 11, at Redlands Community Hospital from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Lehman was well-known in Redlands as the manager and then owner of Burroughs Appliance Center on East State Street, and he was active in the community, especially with Rotary Club projects.

He was born May 11, 1926, in Loma Linda, grew up in Beaumont and finished high school in Compton, where he also attended college.

It was in high school in Compton that he met some of his lifelong friends, his son Jack Lehman said. Those friends included Pete Rozelle, who was commissioner of the National Football League from the 1960s through the '80s.

Lehman and Rozelle were best men at each other's weddings, Jack Lehman said, and they remained close through the years.

The group of friends from Lehman's Compton years, including some from college, became the "Super Bowl" group, about a dozen men and their wives who got together every year at the Super Bowl and visited with Rozelle, Lehman's son said.

After high school, Lehman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and when he returned to


California he married and raised his family in Colton and Redlands.
He worked for Sears, then for the Edison Co. before he settled into what became a career in the appliance business.

After leaving the Edison Co., he began working with his father in the appliance business, then had an opportunity in the early 1950s to work in sales at Waldo F. Burroughs Appliances in Redlands. He later became the store's manager and then owner after Waldo Burroughs retired.

Lehman retired in 1993 and sold the business to Jim Thorpe.

In recent years, the store switched from appliances to a cabinets, tying in with Lehman's passion for woodworking and his skill as a master cabinetmaker.

After his retirement, Lehman enjoyed making cabinets, furniture, toys and other projects in the workshop of the home in Angelus Oaks that he and his wife Martha built together.

His son said everyone in the family, including every grandchild, has something he made, as do many other families.

In addition to cabinets and furniture, his son recalled the toy wagons made of wood, with wooden building blocks fit into them, that he made for his grandchildren and for other people's grandchildren.

His woodworking skill was also appreciated in the Rotary Club of Redlands. He had been an active member of the club since he joined in 1971.

Bill Hatfield, a member of Rotary and owner of Hatfield Buick-GMC Truck in Redlands, said Lehman was always there whenever Rotary members had a major project, such as building a shade cover at a community garden.

"He was an excellent woodworker," Hatfield said. "He knew how to build and fix anything - always hands on."

Hatfield said Lehman also took on the job of standing at the door during Rotary's annual Red Wine and Blues wine-tasting fundraiser, greeting people and handing out glasses and plates.

He said Lehman was also one of the people who made sure the room was ready for Rotary meetings. "He was one who did all the grunt work," Hatfield said.

Lehman's skill with people equaled his skill in the workshop, according to Hatfield.

"He made sure he got to know everyone in the club," Hatfield said, "and when you saw him, you felt better having visited with him, whether it was just hello or quite a conversation.

"He would compliment you, tell you you were doing a good job. He cared about you."

Lehman was also a "wonderful guy to deal with" as a businessman, Hatfield said.

He recalled the time the icemaker in his first refrigerator broke down the day before the Fourth of July and said Lehman was at his house until 8 that night, fixing it.

In the Rotary Club, in addition to the many hours he gave working on service projects, he was also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

A few weeks ago, the Redlands club honored him for his many years of service and made a donation to the ALS Association in his honor.

Lehman's other community involvement included serving on the Redlands school board in the 1960s and serving many years on the board of the Salvation Army.

He had also been a member of the Redlands Business Improvement District and had been active in the First Congregational Church of Redlands, holding many offices.

He had been a member of the Order of DeMolay as a youth and later was a member of the Redlands Masonic Lodge. He had also been a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Exchange Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife Martha Lehman of Angelus Oaks; his son and daughter-in-law Jack and Tawnie Lehman of Brea; his daughters and sons-in-law Susan and Russ Nelson of Belgrade, Mont., Lori and Kent Porter of Bozeman, Mont., and Mari and Cliff DeManty of Fullerton; his former wife Donna Lehman of Bozeman, Mont.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and friends Ken and Donna Goodner of Angelus Oaks who were like family to him.

A celebration of his life and sharing of memories is planned for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the Tartan Restaurant, 24 E. Redlands Blvd., Redlands. Private family services will be held later.

Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association.