Mormon student Bill Child first started working part time for R.C. Willey when he was attending the University of Utah. Then, there were two other employees: R.C. and Lamar Sessions, who did installations and repairs -- and one tiny store in Syracuse.

R.C. Willey had built up a loyal customer base and had a good reputation, Child said.

When Willey died unexpectedly in September 1954, son-in-law Child had recently graduated with a degree in education and had a job offer at a school. He hadn't planned on taking over the business.

But there he was, with a wife and family to support, including his mother-in-law. Loans were called in and taxes came due and Child had a choice: Make the business work or fold.

"I had no choice and there was no way to go back," Child said. "If we'd gone back to start with, we would have been owing people money."

"How to Build a Business Warren Buffett Would Buy: The R.C. Willey Story," by Jeff Benedict, shows how Child, at many times through hard work and bit of creativity, built up and expanded the original R.C. Willey store.

It's more than a book chronicling the history of a company; Child shares the simple management principles, from being motivated by excellence and not money to adapting to changes, that helped the business succeed.

"There is always an opportunity, and it comes in different forms," said Child, who recently returned from serving with his wife at the Washington D.C. Temple visitors center. "The ideal thing is to not be burdened with debt."

Even in an economy like the one now, Child said, there is a way to make a profit.

"Be patient," he said. "Don't expect miracles to happen without a lot of hard work, mentally and physically."

He added that skill, understanding the business, hard work and taking a few risks are needed in growing a business.

Religion is discussed in the book, as the R.C. Willey stores weren't open on Sundays.

It was difficult for Child to persuade Warren Buffett to expand into Idaho or Nevada as Child still wanted for the stores to close on Sundays.

So, Child used his own money to finance the land and the store in Idaho and if the store didn't make the profit necessary to keep it open, the company wouldn't lose anything. If the store did make the required profit, then the company would buy the business.

That store is still open, along with stores in Nevada and California.

Child retired in 2003 as CEO of R.C. Willey Home Furnishings and was the chairman of the board before serving in the temple visitors center.

E-mail: crappleye@desnews.com