Roy Dudley Clippings

Personal Space

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 8, 2005
BY CATHERINE RODGERS PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHEN B. THORTON

Roy Dudley

Occupation: As owner of Roy Dudley Antiques, I work as an antiques dealer, estate sale conductor and personal property appraiser.

Where I live: I live in Hillcrest in a re-modeled 1920s cottage.

My favorite space: The island in my kitchen.

Why? I have so many things going on in my business that the kitchen island serves as command central. This is where members of our staff gather to decide what we need to do today and on occasion, we eat a meal in here. Four pizza boxes fit perfectly on the island, but I do enjoy cooking for friends when time allows. The room is so light and bright that when people walk in the front door they are drawn to this room.

I wanted the kitchen to be comfortable because I knew it's the place where people love to come together in a home. My kitchen has the feeling of being in a treehouse with large windows opening to the treetops in the backyard. One thing that makes the island special is the marble end pieces that were originally used in the lobby of the Union National Bank building built in the 1930s. I bought this house from Garry Mertins who did the major remodeling work, but I was able to buy it from him before the work was completed, so I got to design some of the spaces for my own personal use.

If I could do one thing to improve this space, I would: Build a deck and screened-in porch that will wrap around the kitchen and overlook the backyard.


Talk to the Hand

CUE, bydesign March 2010
BY KATHERINE WYRICK PHOTOGRAPHY JASON MASTERS

In search of something unique and antique? Just follow the finger-the one pointing to a Roy Dudley estate sale. Roy's trademark signs set the hearts of estate sale goers everywhere aflutter. That's because Roy, who has over 1 8 years experience as an antique dealer and appraiser, also has an excellent eye and conducts sales like no other. I am such a fan that I once rode my child's kick scooter almost two miles just to get to a Roy Dudley sale. (What? My car was in the shop). Sure getting back with all those bags proved perilous-but that's dedication for you.

We recently met with Roy to discuss the inherently green nature of his business. “The most significant way that we recycle is, of course, that our merchandise is all used; the resources have been expended to create it … Why not use what we already have? But the one thing the people don’t realize about the estate sale business in general is that there are a lot of green things going on behind the scenes. A lot of recycling is involved when we liquidate an estate. In the process of sorting and trashing, we recycle glass and plastic, and we donate clothing to local charities, blankets to the Humane Society, and food to food banks. In addition, the sacks and wrapping paper we use during sales are recycled and second hand." You could say that Roy was born to the business. His mother conducted sales in the Fayetteville area, while his Aunt Hazel offered financial wisdom, "She made an economics lesson fun. She's 80 something years old and still has yard sales."

Funny business
Asked about one of the odder situations he's found himself in and, yes, he has his share of hoarder stories-Roy relates an anecdote about organizing the estate of a client who left behind some unfinished business. The client called him from out of town mid-week and asked if he'd check in the icebox yet-he hadn't. Apparently her beloved cat had gotten into a scrap just before she had to leave town, and, unable to bury the ill-fated feline in time, she made the expeditious decision to freeze her until a later date. Being the prankster that he is, Roy didn't tell his employees. Instead, says Roy, "I would just casually ask someone to get my Coke out of the freezer for me, and there Tuffy would be'" Now that's just cold. Also in the bizarre category, "We had a lady who had an estate in storage, and when we got in there we found two Indian mummies. I refused to sell them because I just didn't feel comfortable selling human bodies." A man with scruples. I like that.