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The fire was noted on the firemen’s log as being out at 11:06 that long night, even though the fire department
left a fire watch group on-site until May 26, for safety reasons.
As the flames died and the firemen were leaving, Mack and Linda, and their two
daughters, began thanking each and every fireman who fought the blaze.
“You could see the pain in his face, his wife had tears in her eyes and his
daughters were shaken as well, it was devastating,
” Shrum said.
Two weeks after the fire, Mack held a press conference and provided a tour to
the media. During the tour, that pain was still visible, his face was drawn,
his mood sullen, and that easy-going smile and energetic man, who has filled
our televisions for the past couple of decades, was walking slowly and kept his
head down as he walked over the rubble of his life
’s work. A couple of time throughout the tour he said, “Good always conquers evil, and it will this time too.”
As the group walked in almost complete silence, astounded at the twisted metal,
the wreckage and ashes, Mack commented,
“This is the color of destruction, the color of evil.”
According to Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie, the fire has been ruled arson and
is under investigation.
The question remains though, why would anyone want to torch Gallery Furniture,
an icon of Houston and the owner who has always been someone who continues to
gives back to the community, during his good times or bad, he is always there
to answer the call when people are in need?
“Mack has been a colorful and galvanizing figure for the city of Houston. He has
always lent his time and energy to every important cause,
” Mayor White said.
A day or so after the fire, Mack took up residence in his new store on Post Oak
in the Galleria area, which opened less than a month prior to the fire. At the
counter, his smile has returned and he is busy greeting customers. But mention
the fire, and a shadow falls over his face, you see it in his eyes, the pain.
“My wife Linda, like all of us, is still struggling. But she is very reserved,
she
’s ok. The outpouring from the community has really helped sustain us and has
meant so much to my family. We cannot thank everyone enough for their support
and care,
” Mack said.
People continue to call, e-mail and ask what they can do to help, offering words
of sympathy and expressing their concern. Mack says he hopes everyone will
continue to pray for him and his family during this time, a time he compares to
a hell on earth.
Most customers who come into the Galleria store speak to Mack and offer their
condolences regarding the fire. A table near the front of the store is covered
in cards and letters, many in crayon from all he has helped and those in the
community. After all, we all feel like we know Mattress Mack, the man we
’ve seen so many times on television in Gallery Furniture ads, or raising money
with George Bush to help Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Ike victims. He
’s the man who speaks at fundraising events, chambers of commerce, and he’s the one we read about donating funds, or delivering furniture during Christmas
to those who have so little. Yes, he is Mattress Mack, a household name and
Houston
’s hero in so many ways.
“As has been demonstrated by the outpouring of support by the community, Mack has
proven to be much loved and greatly respected,
” said Mayor White.
In the past month, since the fire, Mack has begun plans to rebuild, which he
says will be the new and improved Gallery Furniture, with more customer
friendly qualities as well as a possible new look on the exterior.
Part of the store will open July 4, and by his 59th birthday, Feb. 11, 2010, the
entire store will be open for business and the warehouse will have been
rebuilt.
Right now, many of the employees are boxing up and moving out most of the
furniture in the showroom that had smoke damage. Other employees have moved to
the new store, and hours have been cut even though there have been no layoffs.
When asked if the fire made him think about retiring or if he had considered it,
Mack responded,
“Nowhere in the Bible is retirement mentioned. I’m going to die right here, at work. Plus right now, we are focusing on
rebuilding. But it is more than that, work is the essence of who we are and I
could not imagine life without work.
”
When it comes to rebuilding, he has the community’s support, especially from his long-time friend President Bush 41, who called
him the morning after the fire.
“When I think about Points of Light, Jim and Linda McIngvale are among the very
brightest we have in Houston
—which is saying something in our city full of remarkably kind and giving
individuals,
” said Bush. “Of course, they participate so generously in so many charitable activities known
to their fellow Houstonians. But what so many people don
’t know are the daily acts of selflessness they offer troubled kids, or families
down on their luck, or a fledgling cause that needs a helping hand. Barbara and
I have seen it time and again, and yet we continue to be amazed how those two
constantly reach out to others
—truly doing the Lord’s work here on earth.
“Most people who know Mack know him from his TV ads, but the human being behind
the relentless entrepreneur bears little resemblance to the Mattress Mack image
you see on screen. In person, both he and Linda are modest and unassuming. They
are thoughtful and fun to be around. Barbara and I feel blessed to call them
our friends,
” continued Bush.
Bouncing back in this challenging economy is going to take some work and even
though the insurance company has begun payments, the McIngvales will have
additional out-of-pocket expenses. But Mack continues to say,
“Good will always conquer evil,” and he assures the community they will come back bigger and better than before.
Then he adds, “We know the love God has for us, and we see the future as very good and bright
and we are working hard to bring that future into the present.
”
Another customer stops by the front counter of the new store to shake his hand.
He takes a moment to talk with them and then returns,
“The community is really coming out and supporting our store, which is what we
need right now and we are thankful for that,
” he said.
Mack is not alone in his struggles, as he notes many businesses are struggling
right now due to the economy, and Mack hopes Gallery Furniture can and will
become a beacon of hope, a symbol of a comeback for everyone who has been
knocked down.
“Tough times do not last, but tough people do,” he said. •
