Gary Cooler began his career with Sears while in high school in 1971, delivering merchandise for its catalogue store in Beaufort, S.C. Cooler is celebrating his 42nd year with the company, and the 20th anniversary of the Statesboro Sears Hometown Store which he opened in 1993. "I've been with Sears since the 1970s, so I've seen a lot of changes in the retail industry over the years," Cooler said. "I was one of the initial owners who converted my catalog store into a Sears Hometown Store, and - though it was a scary transition at first - we wouldn't have the success we do today if it weren't for the local community.