Country Connections
by James and Ellen Perry
Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born July 1, 1899, to a religious and gospel music family in Vila Rica, Georgia. At the age of 17 he moved to Chicago and attended the College of Composition and Arranging. This set him on his life’s course as a gospel singer and songwriter.
During his life, Thomas wrote 3,000 songs with 1,000 being gospel songs. Two songs you may remember are his 1932 song, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” and in 1937 he wrote “Peace in the Valley.”
Some artists who recorded his songs were Mahalia Jackson, Red Foley, Elvis Presley, George Jones, Connie Francis, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins.
Not bad for a Black man born in Villa Rica, Georgia, in 1899. Thomas Andrew Dorsey left a giant legacy upon his death January 23, 1993. He faced a continuous uphill struggle during his early life but did not give up.
I sit here thinking of what so many of our young people, mostly young boys, saying that today there is no way to “make it,” that things are different, and they just want to live for today, party and have fun. The heck with tomorrow. Bad attitude young men. Let me offer a success story about a young man who is doing very well today because of his personality, diligence, hard work and ethics.
This young man was born in an ambulance at the apartments where his parents lived on April 16, 1988, in Sacramento, California. A very humble beginning. He was named Dalton Reese Dintleman.
Dalton grew up in Sacramento, California, with his brother Chris Dintleman and a close skinny friend named Greg, who slept over at the Dintleman house frequently.
Greg used Dalton as a pillow at night, according to Dalton’s mom. They were typical young boys, doing what young boys do, but Dalton’s mom told me that Dalton never got into any real trouble. She said that Dalton had lots of friends and sometimes was mischievous, which required a tail busting.
Dalton’s role model was his grandfather, Jesse Daniel Dintleman, who Dalton idolized and emulates to this day.
After Dalton graduated high school, his grandfather decided to move to Tennessee and gave Dalton the option of staying in California or coming to Tennessee with him.
Dalton didn’t want to be without his grandfather, so he moved to Tennessee in 2007 at the age of 19. Now, his mom and most of his close family live in East Tennessee. Dalton managed to get one year of college from the University of Phoenix.
Dalton worked for his Aunt Laura Massey at the Sunshine Play School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, from 2007 ’til 2009. Dalton became his aunt’s assistant director and teacher for preschool kids and became known as “Mr. Dalton.”
His aunt told me that Dalton was a very responsible, honest, and hard-working assistant. She said he was kindhearted, and she considered him her kid. Laura also said the kids hung onto Dalton like a magnet.
In April of 2010 Dalton went to work at McDonald’s in Halls as the grill master. He soon moved up to the drive thru. In 2012 he became shift manager and one year later Dalton was promoted to facility assistant manager. In 2015 he was promoted to the second highest position at a McDonald’s restaurant as the #1 assistant manager.
In 2018 the franchise was bought by John Faris Enterprises of Clinton. Dalton was upgraded at the McDonald’s facility in Halls Crossroads as manager.
As of this writing Faris Enterprises operates 87 McDonald’s from Knoxville to Lexington, Kentucky. Faris Enterprises is currently the third largest McDonald’s franchise holder in the United States.
John Faris’ comments on Dalton: “Dalton Dintleman, general manager of the McDonald’s restaurant in Halls Crossroads, has won the Ray Kroc Award, an accolade that recognizes the top performing restaurant mangers globally. Dalton is one of 390 restaurant managers around the world, representing the top one percent, to receive this honor. The Ray Kroc Award recognizes those who have led their team to outstanding business performance, reflect the culture and values of the McDonald’s System, and reinforce McDonald’s purpose to feed and foster communities.
“Dalton will join his fellow winners in Orlando in April for a huge celebration of their achievements. I have been impressed with Dalton's work ethic, friendly personality, and his ability to work well under pressure. Even when things got challenging during the pandemic, Dalton kept up this energy level and attention to detail, including adapting to all the new safety guidelines throughout the pandemic.
“The customer experience has been the driving force for his success. His relentless attention to health and safety protocols is why I selected his restaurant to be the first restaurant to open their lobby in my organization.
“His restaurant has excelled in attaining the customer's needs with tactics such as outside drive-thru personal order takers, contactless mobile order and pay, curbside delivery and third-party delivery platforms.
“Dalton displays all the tangibles and intangibles that lead to delivering exceptional food quality, service and cleanliness in the restaurant. In addition to performing his job at an exemplary level, Dalton demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to his staff, as well as to the members of his community.
“Together, Dalton and his team raised nearly $15,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in 2020. His restaurant is on pace to raise $25,000 in 2021.”
On April 22, 2020, Dalton and Miss Rebecca Johnson tied the knot (got married) and when Dalton said, “I do,” he immediately had a new pretty boss.
He may be manager of Halls McDonald’s but when he gets home, that changes. Dalton and Rebecca now have two children, a daughter, Aubrey Reese Dintleman, and son, Dalton Reese Dintleman, Jr., who I have been told is a chip off the old block.
Dalton and his family today have a home in Corryton. I’m sure Dalton is on the short list for upward mobility with Faris Enterprises, but Dalton said that for now he has no plans to move up as he plans to be with his family and loves this part of God’s earth.
Today, Dalton’s responsibilities include managing 60 employees at the Halls McDonald’s with a shift of assistant managers. Dalton’s right-hand helper is Gail McBee, who has been at this location for five years.
Gail’s most trying responsibility is keeping the crews in line each morning and making sure they stay awake during breakfast.
Dalton picks two exemplary employees each Christmas and gives each a $200 bonus. He also personally buys each employee a Christmas gift.
This year Dalton received the coveted Ray Kroc Award which is awarded to one percent of the 39,000 McDonald’s facility managers worldwide. Dalton will be given this award trophy and a $2,500 check in Orlando, Florida, in the spring.
Dalton’s mother told me that all she wanted was for her sons to be productive and offer something to society, and Dalton has succeeded in all her expectations.
So you young men, here is a role model for you. If you are honest, truthful, willing to go beyond what is expected of you, persevere, treat people especially your superiors with respect, you can succeed, too.
There are lots of companies out there that are willing to give you a chance, but you need to understand that you start at the bottom, and with time you will be offered advancement based on your ability and willingness to accept responsibility and treat that responsibility with fairness.
Remember this book title borrowed by me from my good friend Ruth White, ‘’You Can Make it if You Try.”