Californian just couldn't resist

ROYAL CITY - If ever you wonder how friendly eastern Washingtonians are, you need to get to know Royal City Harvest Foods supervisor Troy McCullough.

McCullough moved to the Columbia Basin in 2000 because of a rash of friendliness during a one-week visit to Moses Lake. He eventually found a home in Royal City, married Pamela Martinez, and is raising four children.

McCullough was living in Stockton, Calif. in 1999 when a friend of his suggested he get to know Moses Lake. She was there visiting another friend.

"The only thing I knew about Washington was I'd heard of Seattle," McCullough said. "I didn't know about Spokane or anything else."

McCullough's friend, who was looking for a change in life, was beside herself. She told McCullough that Moses Lakers were the friendliest people she'd met.

McCullough bought a round-trip plane ticket and came. He planned to go back because of his employment.

There was snow on the ground when McCullough's connecting flight from Seattle landed in November. McCullough was elated.

"I'd never seen snow, except on TV," he said.

McCullough cooled his heels the rest of that day. He arose early the next morning for a walk through his hosts' neighborhood.

Almost immediately McCullough was confronted with a friendly Moses Laker. He greeted McCullough: "Good morning. How are you doing?"

McCullough couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it. Based on his Stockton experiences, surely this man wanted something. Well no, he just walked on by. Then another neighborhood resident greeted him. Then another.

"Maybe this is the way everybody is," McCullough thought.

McCullough went back to Stockton, but he couldn't get eastern Washington friendliness out of his mind. He had no particular reason to dislike Stockton, but he felt a change was in order.

McCullough announced his intentions at work and moved to Moses Lake in January of 2000 with no job waiting for him. His hosts told him to just relax while he found his way.

Eventually McCullough did several jobs through a temp agency. His first full-time employment was with Moses Lake Coca-Cola. He started as a merchandiser, setting up displays at markets.

In 2006 McCullough was promoted to sales. Things were looking good but, in 2007, the economy started to struggle, and Coke decided to downsize. Two of the sales people, McCullough included, were eliminated.

McCullough took a severance package of three full months of pay and worked his final month. Then he started to look for new employment.

By then, McCullough was friends with Harvest Foods Manager Ben Fanning, having met him long before while he was merchandising. They had socialized and done Bible study together.

When he learned McCullough was unemployed, Fanning offered the position of supervisor at the store. His brother was leaving the post for employment in Oregon.

McCullough thought about the offer for two weeks. Predominant among his musings was the fact that several Harvest Foods employees attended his church.

On Oct. 1, 2007 McCullough signed on with Harvest Foods. Five months later he met his future wife. They married in 2008, and McCullough made Royal City his home.

"To this day, I still love eastern Washington," McCullough said. "I love the welcome I got from the people. I still love the snow. I'm disappointed it hasn't snowed yet this fall."

"I'll go back to Stockton to visit," McCullough added. "I still have family there. But I'll never go back to stay. I love the people of Washington."