PEORIA MAGAZINE October 2023

Gould is the only family member still actively involved in the business. He sees his six daughters getting the same introduction to the family business he had. “They’re familiar with helping out around here,” he said. “They like coming in and hanging out.” While records are scarce, Lagron Miller apparently operated for years before its formal incorporation. Famed central Illinois cleric Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, who is a candidate for sainthood, worked at the store while in school. “The diocese actually called us. In re viewing the paperwork in his cause for sainthood, there was reference to him working at Lagron-Miller,” Gould said.

David Gould, owner of Lagron-Miller Company, shows one of the liturgical garments sold at the store

the Heart of Peoria Catholic Community and rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral. “I think it’s unique to that kind of business.” ‘THE CHURCH IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY’ Gould sees similarities between church es and his business, outside of the cus tomer bases. “(A church) is a work atmosphere that runs kind of like a family,” he said. “It’s been great dealing with custom ers who have a similar work flow and atmosphere.” That extends to many of his suppliers, as well. “It’s such a family-oriented busi ness niche and I think (that) contributes to the uniqueness.” While Lagron-Miller has been seen as almost-exclusively Catholic, Gould emphasized that its product lines have ecumenical appeal. “We deliver to a lot of Lutheran church es, Protestant churches,” he said. “We’ve tried to make this a welcoming place for all denominations.” Church participation and membership have dramatically changed since 1925 and many smaller communities have seen longtime churches close or con solidate. Still, Gould sees the company continuing to fulfill its mission. “We’re aware of (the changes) but we’re still rooted in the belief that the church is not going to go away,” he said. “People’s faith will always be something they fall back on.

“In times of celebration or in times of grief, we’re still going to be the place you can come and find something.” CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, AND A SAINT CANDIDATE TO BOOT Customers also appreciate the re lationship. One longtime customer told of hav ing to pick up a school uniform for one grandchild while simultaneously caring for another, sick grandchild. She alerted Gould to the situation and he made a car-side delivery in the store’s parking lot to hand off the clothing. “When I first moved here in ‘88. I would go there quite often,” said Kevin Zeeb, a deacon at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton. “It doesn’t matter who is working, they’re always kind, friendly, always smiling, com passionate … trying to minister in a little way.” Zeeb mentioned the store’s ability to special order items, including artwork, provide gift-wrapping and hold items for pickup at a convenient time. He also remembered Gould and his father com ing to the deacon training class to per sonally fit the group for albs and stoles. “They try and help you in any way they can.” Both Miller and Zeeb characterized the store as a destination spot and meeting place for clerics and laypeople coming from out of town.

Fulton Sheen as a young priest

Peoria’s largest hospital, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, has been a longtime customer, Gould said, with the store providing religious decor, art work and chapel items to OSF hospitals. “They come in and say ‘we want to put the same crucifix in every room in every hospital we own,” Gould said. “It’s fortunate to have customers coming to you saying ‘we want to make this place special, sacramental, spiritual.’ And we’re able to provide that.”

Bob Grimson is a longtime journalist. He also is active in Peoria area community theater

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