PAA President Says Auct
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
WAYNESBURG (Greene Co.) The head of
the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association never at
tended auctioneering school, but he can call bids
with the best of them. At one time, Clayton placed
second in a state bidding competition, and also in
the top 10 for several years.
Clayton said of his auctioneer start, “Pennsylva
nia did not require auctioneering school at that
time; instead, I was required to take a test.”
He was also required to serve as an apprentice for
two years. It’s no easy feat to acquire an apprentice
ship, but Clayton said he was in the right place at
the right time.
In 1965, he was sitting on a porch listening to an
auctioneer calling bids. The auctioneer had a
coughing spasm. Clayton offered to call for him
while the auctioneer rested his voice, and ended up
working for him 10 years. In 1967, Clayton received
his auctioneer license.
Growing up, Clayton attended lots of auctions
with his father and grandfather. As a teen-ager,
Clayton took a test that revealed he has an aptitude
for auctioneering. That clinched it. Clayton never
looked back.
He said, “In Greene County, real estate auctions
are not as popular as in Lancaster County. Antiques
are big.”
Clayton said, “I had the good fortune to sell a
Boughner crock that was late 1800 s. I expected it
would go between $5,000-$B,OOO. It sold for $lB,OOO.
I got a reputation for selling.”
But having surprises like those “are harder to
come by today,” Clayton said. Families today are
Supply and demand determine how high bids
go at auctions.
ng Is In H
oncer
jmes . layton believes people consider g
an auctioneering career should have an outgo
ing personality, pleasant demeanor, high, hon
est integrity, good ethics, and good common
sense.
better educated about what is valuable. They tend to
keep valuable pieces rather than sell.
Over the years, Clayton has watched the antiques
market change. He said, “People want 1940-1950 s
chrome dinette sets. They didn’t used to get a bid,
but today people try to buy back their childhoods.
People buy what they remember. A set of chairs that
sold for 35 cents a few years ago now bring $l5O a
piece.’
Although many items are commanding higher
dollar amounts, Clayton believes things need to be
Is Blood
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