Extracted from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Monday, August 8, 2011

Las Savell, jeweler who celebrated those who `made Memphis a better place,' dies at 76

That familiar billboard at the corner of McLean and Union had this simple message Monday morning: Las Savell 1934-2011.

The Midtown jeweler, who used the sign in front of his store to acknowledge people who ``made Memphis a better place,'' died after a long illness Sunday at Methodist University Hospital. He was 76.

Son of a Louisiana sharecropper, Mr. Savell used his business savvy and promotional skills -- in some of his TV commercials he included his two little dogs, Ginger and Cricket -- to make himself a household word in Memphis.

``He came out of a cotton patch,'' said his wife, Sara.

Mrs. Savell and her husband were to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary in November.

Mr. Savell established himself as a public relations expert, and, serving as PR director at Methodist Hospital, he conceived the idea to construct the institution's large cross sign, so that visitors from outside the area could find the hospital, even if they were unfamiliar with the city.

He was a singer and musician; he played and sang at various Memphis churches, often with his wife, and playhouse venues.

``He was a self-made man,'' said his wife. His favorite song was Frank Sinatra's ``I Did It My Way.''

``And he did,'' she said.

The Savells began their business by selling gold chains at flea markets, then opened a store on Calhoun, now G.E. Patterson, behind the Arcade Restaurant. The store moved to the Kimbrough Towers at Union and Kimbrough, then to its present location 25 years ago.

``He was like a father to me,'' said Richard Black, manager of Las Savell Jewelry.

``He took me in and taught me everything I know,'' Black said.

``This place is like a family,'' said Black, an employee for 13 years. Other employees have been with the store close to 20 years, and Savell's daughter, Amy, has long worked at the store.

``It's been a wonderful experience,'' Black said. ``It's a big loss for us all.''

The Savell family, he said, plans to keep the business operating.

``He was the last of that generation,'' said fellow jeweler Danny Rumble. Las Savell Jewelry had a jeweler on site, which is not common these days.

``He was a self-made man. He was a promoter, and you don't see anyone who put himself out there as he has,'' Rumble said.

Mr. Savell is survived by his wife and daughter.

Funeral arrangements were not complete Monday.