Arthur Becker
Arthur Becker was the oldest of five children, born to Charles and Amanda Becker. He was born in 1917 at home in Blue Island, IL.
Art had a sixth grade education. Growing up in a family without a breadwinner, Art left school to support his mother, brothers and sisters. The family was extremely poor but with the help of his grandfather, Charles Louis, they survived. During those depression days they moved frequently because they could not pay the rent. They were moved by a cart drawn by a horse. As the oldest child, Art took the role as the head of the house, while dealing with his alcoholic father.
Learning how to hustle at an early age, Art found a good job as a milk delivery man. This was steady
work and had a regular pay check.
As he came of age, Arthur married Florence Schultz and had two daughters, Sondra and Sharon.
As time progressed Art and Florence had the opportunity to start their own business, which was
a restaurant and tavern supply service. Art eventually became a Jay’s Potato Chip franchisee and
worked out of a building on 127th street in Blue Island, IL. He was able to buy a substantial building
located on Western Ave., where they loaded up the trucks. This shop also carried beer nuts, that his wife Florence bagged herself.
Art also moved slot machines during this time, as this was a recreational activity in bars in the South Side of Chicago. There were always extra machines in his warehouse, so he could trade these out and provide new machines to his customers. His business in those days was cash.
Art was always generous and the first to reach into his pocket to pay. He always drove the latest big
luxury Lincolns and was extremely popular in the community. He was famous for his garage parties and
Manhattan cocktails. Every summer he would load up his relatives in one of his panel trucks and take them to the Crown Point Fair in Indiana.
Art did all he could to support his mother, and his sisters, Irene and Joyce. He definitely set an example for his nephews and nieces on how to live a full life.
Art had a sixth grade education. Growing up in a family without a breadwinner, Art left school to support his mother, brothers and sisters. The family was extremely poor but with the help of his grandfather, Charles Louis, they survived. During those depression days they moved frequently because they could not pay the rent. They were moved by a cart drawn by a horse. As the oldest child, Art took the role as the head of the house, while dealing with his alcoholic father.
Learning how to hustle at an early age, Art found a good job as a milk delivery man. This was steady
work and had a regular pay check.
As he came of age, Arthur married Florence Schultz and had two daughters, Sondra and Sharon.
As time progressed Art and Florence had the opportunity to start their own business, which was
a restaurant and tavern supply service. Art eventually became a Jay’s Potato Chip franchisee and
worked out of a building on 127th street in Blue Island, IL. He was able to buy a substantial building
located on Western Ave., where they loaded up the trucks. This shop also carried beer nuts, that his wife Florence bagged herself.
Art also moved slot machines during this time, as this was a recreational activity in bars in the South Side of Chicago. There were always extra machines in his warehouse, so he could trade these out and provide new machines to his customers. His business in those days was cash.
Art was always generous and the first to reach into his pocket to pay. He always drove the latest big
luxury Lincolns and was extremely popular in the community. He was famous for his garage parties and
Manhattan cocktails. Every summer he would load up his relatives in one of his panel trucks and take them to the Crown Point Fair in Indiana.
Art did all he could to support his mother, and his sisters, Irene and Joyce. He definitely set an example for his nephews and nieces on how to live a full life.