Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Local businessman dies at age 93

An inspiration. A gentleman. A generous person.

Those were just a few of the things Gurdon residents have to say about James Austin Capps Sr.

Capps died Saturday, April 14, at Arkadelphia.

Better known around town as simply Austin, Capps was a Gurdon businessman for more than 70 years. During that time, he touched many lives.

But perhaps more importantly than those who had business dealings with Capps are those who recall a helping hand readily extended by Capps.

He helped me personally, said Ed McKinnon, another local business owner.

McKinnon said there are many in the area who received a bit of help, including some who went on to college because of Capps generosity.

He had a good heart, McKinnon said. He grew up in a time when a mans word and a hand shake were all you needed. He was a man of his word.

There are things Austin Capps has done for Gurdon that people are not aware of.

Billy Tarpley grew up in Gurdon and said Capps was his Sunday school teacher - a point that inspired Tarpley. Tarpley said there are many people who dont participate in church, social or civic activities because they spend so much time at work.

But here was a man who worked six full days a week and took time out on Sunday to go to church and teach a bunch of ragtag boys, Tarpley said.

Tarpley was one of many in the area who worked for the Capps in some capacity. He called Capps the epitome of the local merchant.

Over the course of his life in Gurdon, Capps and his late wife, Mary Lou, owned and operated a grocery store, flower shop, department store, variety store and rental properties.

In a 2004 interview, Capps said he had begun his business career by selling cold soft drinks from a barrel at his fathers grocery store, located on Main Street in Gurdon. Capps spent some time away from Gurdon in the military and was proud of his career there. But once he was released from duty, he returned to Gurdon.

Theres no place like Gurdon. Anywhere, Capps was quoted as saying in a 2004 Gurdon Times article. I always loved Gurdon, he said. The people here were always friendly and Ive had a lot of friendly customers.

Capps was a faithful member of the Gurdon Rotary Club for many years and the club had planned to present Capps with a plaque this week in honor of that service.

We were never able to tell him as a club how much we appreciate him, Tarpley said.