 Upon graduating from Humes High School, Elvis
lost no time in contributing to the family income by taking on a
full-time job.
Precision Tool Company Inc. was a Memphis located company at Kansas
Street, manufactured ordnance shells for the US Army. Elvis briefly held the factory assembly line
job at the Precision Tool Company, starting June 3,
and
ending July 1, 1951.
His weekly take home pay was a mere $27.00 working from
7:00am to 3:30pm, five days a week.
That year he took his driver's license test using his uncle
Travis Smith's 1940 Buick.
A rumour has it that Elvis was fired because
of an argument with the foreman over the length of this hair, but Elvis
was not fired for his hair but because he was under age. The truth of
the matter was revealed on his next job application. Brothers, Travis
and John Smith (maternal cousins to Elvis) also worked there and it was
through their contact that both Elvis and Gene Smith get jobs at
Precision Tool Company.
Elvis’ next job was driving a truck for the
Crown Electric Company. Run by Jim and Gladys Tipler at
Poplar Avenue.
Gladys Tipler and Gladys Presley knew each other though a
circle of friends that attended the Assembly of God Church.
The pay was less than at the Precision Tool Company, but
Elvis loved the job that lasted 14 months until the fall of
1954.
After a phone call from Sam Phillips
inviting Elvis to record at Sun Studio. And the rest when on to become
history!
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