Blair County Business Hall of Fame Induction Held on June 15

On June 15, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce held their 2023 Business Hall of Fame and Awards of Distinction ceremony.

This year, the two businesses inducted into the hall of fame were Greenwood Pools and Spas and Shoe Fly Stores.

Greenwood Pools and Spas was started in 1960 by Clae and Norma Colyer. Clae wanted an in ground swimming pool in his backyard and discovered that there was no one in town to do this. Therefore, he did his research, found the materials and built his pool himself. The Colyers sold swimming pools and supplies part-time out of their home until 1965, when they went in business full time and moved to their current location at 1560 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd in the Greenwood section of Altoona. The business was incorporated in 1970.

The business grew - both in sales and service area - resulting in the need for expansion of the showrooms, display areas and warehousing. The original in ground display pool built in 1965 still exists and has undergone several renovations to keep up with current trends.

In 1987, the second generation of Colyers, husband and wife Randy and Sylvia, took over the day-to-day operations and further continued to expand the business. Greenwood Pools and Spas is proud to offer even more elaborate, one-of-a-kind in ground pools, hot tubs, grills, coolers, garden flags, decor and much more.

In 2001, Greenwood Pools and Spas was inducted into AQUA magazine's "AQUA 100 Hall of Fame," which recognizes the top 100 pool/spa dealers in the country.

Randy said it is truly an honor to be inducted into the Blair County Business Hall of Fame.

"It is very humbling," Randy said. "I never expected any of this."

Shoe Fly Stores accepted the Hall of Fame induction on behalf of the founders, retired and current management and staff, and all of those who have contributed to their business.

Shoe Fly is rooted deeply in Blair County and reaches across the Atlantic to Lithuania with two founders: Oscar Lasser and Jacob Levine. Oscar opened a shoe repair shop in Hollidaysburg in 1904, and Jacob immigrated in 1911 to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad before opening a men's work clothing store in Altoona.

Oscar's son, William actively operated Lasser's Shoe Store on Allegheny Street, with his son Byron joining the business in 1976.

Jacob's sons Morris and Nathan moved to Tyrone in 1936 with the opening of Levine Brothers' Clothing. Morris, after serving in France in WWII, returned to Tyrone to open Morris Levine Family Shoe Store with his wife Bess.

Nineteen-year old Todd Lewis purchased the Levine store in Tyrone in 1988, and Morris stayed on to mentor the young entrepreneur and a high school friend, Charlie Biddle. Lewis and Biddle joined Greg Wagner in 1993 to form a partnership and purchase "The Shoe Fly" in downtown State College. A fourth friend , George Gripp, joined the partnership.

In 2003, Byron Lasser's Hollidaysburg store merged with the Tyrone Levine's store to form "Shoe Fly Altoona," relocating to its present location in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center. The Altoona store continues to set the standard for 17 other stores spanning four states. Over the years, new partners joined including Russ Buchmann and Mark Wagner. The business is supported by over 100 employees, which include children from each of the four founding partners.

The success of the business rests on quality footwear and personal service delivered by compassionate employees dedicated to finding your "perfect fit."

"It lets us know that the community appreciates what we are doing and the other businesses appreciate what we are doing...something we have seen grow and evolve and turn into what it is today," Russ Buchmann, part owner and VP of Technology, said.

The other awards given during the program were Excellence in Small Business, which was given to J&O Fireplaces; Young Emerging Business, which was given to Just Breathe Salt Spa and Yoga Studio Inc.; and the Non-Profit of the Year, given to Operation Our Town.