My Mentor Dorothy “Dottie” Dickinson
A mentor and leader that I admire, someone whom I have looked up to my entire life, my amazing Grandmother Dorothy “Dottie” Dickinson. She is nearing her 90th birthday and has experienced so much throughout her life while always making her way to the wheelhouse to take the helm with nothing but style, and grace.
Born Dorothy "Dottie” Chastain, in January of 1933. An only child, Dottie grew up in Arizona with her parents. Her father worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. At the age of 14, Dottie began working as a soda jerk, filling in for her mother when she became ill. At 15, she began working at the ticket booth of the local drive-in. By her Jr. Year in high school, Dottie began working with the Theatre Association of Actors as an actor trainee and the famous Sombrero Playhouse in Phoenix, AZ for Summer Theatre. She worked under some very notable actors such as Gene Autry, Kirk Douglas, and Mickey Rooney, to name a few. During her time there she told me about how quickly the shows would break down, and a new set began being built before they had even wrapped the last show. It was an exciting time and a wonderful experience for her. In her senior year of High School Dottie began writing scripts for a radio show in Mesa once per week. Eventually, she earned sponsorship through Singer sewing machines which landed her a half-hour slot to have her mystery theater stories performed by students that she was able to cast from the local grade school. Dottie also earned a 15-minute segment on the Gene Autry radio show, known as “Teen Talk”, where she interviewed people around town. When Dottie graduated from North High School of Phoenix in 1951, she was named “Student Director of the Year,” and was awarded a Scholarship for Theatre Arts which she did not pursue.
After high school, Dottie worked for a few department stores where she made easy work of excelling to the top sales position. It was becoming apparent there was nothing she couldn’t do. After becoming the head cashier at a department store, Dottie decided to take a Saturday sales position at a high-end women's bathing suit and men's business suit store. One day, Dottie got the idea to wear one of the beautiful designer bathing suits while working on the sales floor. She was a hit! Bathing suit and business suit sales took off, and Dottie earned another top sales position.
Within a few years, Dottie decided it was time to move on to something more challenging and applied to work with the Mountain States Phone Company. This was back when a large group of busy operators on roller skates buzzed around on roller skates connecting calls with where they needed to go through plug and wire switchboards. During this time was when cross country dialing was up and coming and she was among the first companies in the country to learn the system. It was also during this time that Dottie had a brief marriage followed quickly by a divorce and relocating to California. Once there she took a job with Pacific Bell telephone company where cross-country dialing had not been implemented or trained the operators. It was then that she was appointed to write the entire training manuals for the employees and the systems on the new dialing capabilities. It took her, along with the help of two others, a total of one full year to get it done, including having General Electric wire some of the boards for the initial training process. Before beginning the training, weeding out capable candidates who would become the trainers of the rest of the operators was the next step. Dottie remembers asking the candidates to rub their stomachs and pat their heads at the same time. If they were able to do that, then it was a good indication they were capable of multi-tasking. A skill that is paramount with this new system. Over the next year, Dottie assisted in the initial training until her doctor advised she would need to resign from her position due to the strain the heavy headset was causing to her neck and back. As much as she enjoyed that job, she knew it was time to move on.
Before long Dottie made her way into management and expansion of a Beauty Shop chain in the Glendale and surrounding LA area. During this time was when she met my grandfather who had already begun attending law school. It was not too long before they were married, and Dottie began typing reports for a Private Investigation Firm. By her mid 20’s Dottie & her husband Gene had 3 children in quick succession. Gene continued attending law school, while they both worked for the private investigation firm, and Gene also found work as a milkman. Eventually, Dottie and Gene took over American Mercury Insurance Claims Adjustors, to whom they had worked for doing private investigative work. Once Gene passed the bar exam, they decided to shift their focus to Gene building a clientele base, and Dottie more time at home with the children who were now of school age and each becoming involved in more activities. After some time of his initial clients being referrals from a mentor and colleague, Gene was able to eventually open his own practice. Once they found a location in downtown Burbank of the 5th-floor office building, Dottie jumped into action and had that 5th floor looking sharp. The offices of Eugene B. Dickinson, Esq. Attorney at Law were up and running. And wouldn't you know it, Dottie found herself behind the desk working as a legal secretary with no formal training. Recently, she explained to me, while laughing, that she was able to get by, after purchasing a legal secretary handbook. The one problem that she remembers running into was when writing out a court document otherwise known as a pleading, she could never find what line to start on. Eventually, she went down to the Sheriff’s department and asked the secretary, who incidentally did not know either. So, she walked over to a file cabinet, pulled out the first legal document, and counted it out. Line 11! Line 11 is where you start a pleading on a court document. She has never forgotten that to this day.
Over the years as the children and the law firm both grew, Dottie found herself interested in Real Estate investment. In addition to two single residential homes, one in the Los Angeles area and the other in Lake Tahoe, Dottie also purchased a small tri-plex rental residential property which she continues to rent out to tenants today, almost 50 years later. Oh, and she had a surprise baby too! My Uncle Ken. That is 12 years since having her last child! All the while still running the household, keeping the kids fed and off to school, raising a baby, and helping wherever she can with the law firm. At one time Gene was the First President of the San Fernando Valley Criminal Attorney Bar Association. Over the years, working in and around Los Angeles County Gene crossed paths with many well-known attorneys of that time. The most recognizable to most is Vincent Bugliosi, who is most well known as the prosecuting attorney for Charles Manson and The Manson Family, and the NY Times Best Selling Author of Helter Skelter. Dottie and Gene hosted a fundraising event for Bugliosi, at their home in Placidia, California. She would go on to plan and handle most of the events involving the firm over the years all the while raising her children, and managing a household, and if that were not enough, Dottie wanted to do more. So, during President Ronald Reagan’s time in office, she joined the Organization for Republican Women and worked in two Congressional Staff districts, during Ronald Reagan’s administration.
Dottie continued being involved with various organizations and groups, and as her family was expanding, she became a super pro and learned how to balance it all out. By the mid 90’s Dottie and Gene had 7 Grandchildren. It seemed like at least once or twice a month the entire family would emerge on their home for a visit. Birthday parties, holidays, or just because. Their house was the place we went to. The kids, their spouses, and the grandkids. And she was always ready too. The house was always clean, the yards so nicely manicured, and food was cooked or laid out and ready to sit down. Of course, she always looked great. Hair, nails, and outfit are always on point. One of my favorite things, even to this day, is when she answers her door briskly with a bright smile and says, “Get in here!” Now, we are not a mild-mannered or quiet family by any means. It is the exact opposite. We all like to talk, laugh, and goof off. Someone was always playing the piano in the front living room. My grandfather Gene was always blasting the television in the back living room. We would be running in and out of the house, laughing, and even debating at times. My grandmother Dottie, still cool as a cucumber, made sure everyone felt important. She would find time to talk with each of us, even if just for a few minutes, every time we came.
In 2005, Gene passed away from cancer, not long after being diagnosed. I remember going to visit him in the hospital at one point before his passing. He had Dottie taking notes on everything she was going to have to take care of with any of his clients and pending cases. I am sure there was much more to it. I saw pages of notations and I did not stay long. I was just so overwhelmed by her strength and composer during what had to be one of the toughest times in her life.
In the past 17 years, Dottie has been working on checking things off her bucket list. She has taken acting classes, started painting again, writing her memoirs, vacationed in Hawaii, went on a month-long world Cruise, had some remodeling done to her home, bought a new car, and hosted some pretty amazing parties including an amazing Halloween party with not one single detail missing. Oh, and my wedding was held at her home in March of 2009!! My Grandmother has been my mentor and the person I have looked up to my entire life because she has given 120% in everything she does. She has always been kindhearted and thoughtful. She encourages us all to work hard and to make choices in our lives that bring health and happiness. She is tough but with a nurturing heart. She has the best stories. She is so funny and loves to laugh. Another favorite thing of mine that she does is when she is trying to tell you something, but she cannot stop laughing which becomes even funnier because no one can understand her. My Grandmother. My Mentor. My favorite person.
My life choices and career paths, although quite different from hers, maintain the same tenacity and go for it drive. Always pushing to excel in everything that I do, striving to learn how to do everything and if I do not, I will figure it out. I will research it, watch a tutorial, ask questions, and even call a friend or family member that is well educated on the topic. My family is the most important people in my life, and in my house being there for someone includes encouragement and guidance to keep going, keep studying, keep working, and not give up. Her calmness and humor have taught me how to remain peaceful and happy when things happen that we have no control over. Her knowledge of navigating the world with just the right amount of grace and charm has taught me how to be pleasant and kind regardless of how I feel. Finally, to work hard at seeing things through to the end. Do nothing halfway. Lead do not follow.