Rodger Lalli NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Normanite: Rodger Lalli

BY; Chelsey Kraft

A lifelong Norman resident, Rodger Lalli has witnessed the community grow first hand, especially on the west side of the interstate where he has lived and worked for many years.

Lalli’s parents, Virgil and Marian, moved to Norman in 1952 so Virgil could attend the University of Oklahoma. The couple lived in Parkview Apartments, and Marian would catch the train at Lindsey Street to go to her job at a law firm in Oklahoma City. Virgil and Ken McCall were partners in establishing Ken’s Food Market, originally located right next to The Mont. The duo later added a location to the south on North Porter.

In the mid-1960s and the 1970s, Lalli, his brothers and some friends could often be found sitting outside the grocery store by the railroad tracks at Boyd Street selling oranges on football game days.

“If it was that time of year and it looked like OU was going to go to the Orange Bowl, we would sit out there and sell them for a dollar apiece,” Lalli shared. “So when the oranges came raining down in the stadium, we had sold all those oranges to the fans.”

After graduating from Norman High School and then completing his OU degree in 1977, Lalli joined his dad in the grocery business and helped run the stores. He remained in this role until his dad retired in 1988, and Lalli then joined an insurance agency in town. In 1993, Lalli moved to the Steve Owens Insurance Group and since 2004 has worked as the general manager.

“I get to go out and be around people, which is what I love to do. I also like solving problems and solving issues for people and businesses,” said Lalli of why he enjoys working in insurance.

Owens, former OU running back and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner, was good friends with Lalli’s dad. Lalli has known Owens since he was a kid and has been close to the family ever since and said, “they’re special people to me.”

“I think it’s important to build relationships with those you work with and people you work for, our customers, so I build my business based off of relationships,” Lalli said.

In addition to the grocery stores, the Lallis owned a convenience store at the entrance of Brookhaven from 1973 through 1988. The store also featured a delicatessen, and Lalli said they offered catering for many years. He enjoyed getting to know people, many of whom were repeat customers, through weddings, Christmas parties and other events.

The Lalli family moved to the area in 1967 and built the 12th house in Brookhaven. At the time, this part of Norman was all farm, including cotton fields, an egg farm and a dairy farm, and 36th Avenue was still a dirt road, Lalli recalled.

The Steve Owens Insurance Group offices in Brookhaven Village, so from his time living in the area to owning the convenience store to now, Lalli has had a front-row seat to witness the growth of the area.

“Probably all of Brookhaven was built by the builders and the homebuyers sitting at the little deli in the back (of the store) going over house plans,” Lalli recalled. “It was the place to be. It was a lot of fun.”

Currently, Lalli attends Timber Creek Fellowship Church. For much of his life, he was active First Baptist Church, teaching a Sunday School class for 25 years and serving as a deacon. Lalli was then part of the group that started Journey Church.

Last May, Lalli retired as advisor at OU’s Lambda Chi Alpha chapter, a role he filled for 20 years, including six on the national board. Lalli added that he plans to start getting involved with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline because it’s an issue that is close to his heart and he would like to work with organizations to help in that area. “There’s always something here to do to be involved in the community,” Lalli said.

Lalli also enjoys spending time with his mom, who is now 92 years old and lives just about six blocks from him, taking walks and fishing in the pond at the end of his street.

For Lalli, there’s not been any reason to leave Norman, and the people he has gotten to know over the years are a large part of that.

“To know all about it (the history of Brookhaven) and know people, that’s one of the great things about working here and staying in Norman,” Lalli explained. “I’ve had opportunity to go, but I’ve always felt like this is home.” – BSM