Wayne Richardson, who recently retired after 33 years as manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Jacksonville, Fla., “was the go-to guy when customers were looking for inspirational literature that was out of print, no longer available or needed in large quantities,” The Florida Times-Union reported.

Once a pastor friend from another state called to say he needed an out-of-print New International Version thinline Bible with a pink cover that his son could give his girlfriend for her birthday, the newspaper reported. Richardson found one in a warehouse in Tennessee.

“That tenacity and desire to help customers stood him in good stead” through Richardson's career with LifeWay, the newspaper observed. “I think retail is more about relationships than dollars and cents,” Richardson, who will be 56 in August, told the Times-Union.

Beverly Bachara, who worked with Richardson for 18 years, said he had been an effective manager because he was a good leader, had an open-door policy, and a genial manner with customers and employees.

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