Gary Lenzi grew up on Lincoln Street in Monongahela and walked to Lincoln Elementary School in the early 1960s.

Claudia Williams grew up in New Eagle and walked to Roosevelt Elementary School.

They both graduated from Monongahela High School in 1970, the last class for the Wildcats before the formation of Ringgold School District.

Today, the two former classmates and longtime friends own businesses within two blocks of each other in Monongahela and serve in public offices in neighboring communities.

“We were the largest class to graduate from Monongahela High School,” said Williams, a city councilwoman and owner of C.J.'s Furniture, located at 142 West Main St., noting they were among 382 to wear caps and gowns that year.

Lenzi is a current Carroll Township supervisor and owner of Lenzi's Service Station, 149 East Main St., Monongahela.

He was a member of the cross country team and the band. Williams was active in the school newspaper and yearbook.

Lenzi was a member of the first class at Finley Middle School in 1964. Lenzi recalled when his mother informed him he was going to the new school, he said, “where's Finleyville?”

Both walked to the high school.

“Walking back and forth was better than recess,” Williams said. “That was socializing.”

Both Lenzi and Williams are continuing family businesses.

Lenzi's grandfather, Pete Turri, started the business in 1943. It was located at the intersection of routes 136 and 88, adjacent to where the Eat N Park in Monongahela is located. It bore the name of Turri, the maternal grandfather of the current owner.

The business had humble beginnings with a gas pump and one bay where some auto repairs were done.

Joseph and Wilma Lenzi came into the business in 1962 when Turri retired. Turri's son-in-law, Joseph Lenzi, had worked there for years before taking over the business.

Gary Lenzi was just 15 when he began working at the business. He did some limited mechanical work at the garage and went out with the tow trucks on service calls.

After graduating from Monongahela High School in 1970, he received mechanic's training from Val Tech and started full-time at the family business. He did alignments and towing. His mother did the accounting and his father operated the business.

When his father passed away, Gary Lenzi took over the business. His wife, Debbie, also helped in the business.

When Pennzoil took over the business at the end of the 55-year lease, Lenzi's was moved to its current site in 2003.

Today, his daughter, Erika Lenzi-Raible, is a partner in the business.

Lenzi was elected as a Carroll Township supervisor in 1993. He previously served as constable. Because he did not decide to run until after he learned that incumbent commissioner Henry Pennline was not seeking re-election, Lenzi missed the deadline to get his name on the ballot. He won a Republican nomination as a write- in and won his seat that fall. He has since been re-elected to six-year terms in 1999, 2005 and 2011.

Lenzi said he was guided into office by two former school administrators – Tom Rapp and Lou Resovich – who were township supervisors at the time.

“They said, ‘You're a businessman. You can help us.'”

C.J.'s Furniture, 142 W. Main St., was started in 1987 by Williams' aunt, Helen Filippelli.

Like Lenzi, Williams “grew up in the business.”

Williams worked at the furniture store when she was still in high school.

“I got out of school and came down here,” Williams said. “I'd dust, mop, sweep. I swept the sidewalks every day.”

“Every time the tow truck went out, I'd go out with them,” Lenzi added. “It's in your blood.”

“That's right,” Williams said.

Williams worked in Charleroi selling shoes and was the top shoes salesperson in the country when she worked for J.C. Penney's.

When Filippelli retired, Williams took over the business.

Both grew up in their respective businesses and wouldn't want it any other way.

Williams has served on Monongahela City Council for five years. She will step down at the end of the year. She cited $2 million in improvements to the Monongahela Aquatorium among her accomplishments.

“I don't think politics should become a career and I accomplished quite a bit.”

They reminisced about their days in high school.

“He was popular in high school,” Williams said of Lenzi.

“She was quiet somewhat in high school,” Lenzi said. “We were good friends in high school.”

Lenzi recalled that Williams' brother, Amos, worked for him at the service garage for a several years in the late 1970s.

Lenzi said even in high school, he knew he and Williams would lead parallel lives. He noted that on his way to open his service garage, he often sees Williams out in front of her store early in the morning sweeping before the start of the business day.

“It's in your blood,” Lenzi said. “It's not the money. It's that it's got to be done.”

Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2642 or cbuckley@tribweb.com.

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