Courtesy photo / Wayne Templeton speaks at one of his auction events. Templeton has been in the auction business for 50 years after starting by selling candy at 9 years old.

EBENSBURG — What started out as a young boy selling candy at a local auction gallery developed into a successful business career for an area auctioneer.

“In 1963 as a kid, I worked at the Davis Auction Barn at 9 years of age. I sold (factory second) Mallo Cups, and it just went from there,” said Wayne Templeton, sole proprietor of Templeton Auctioneers, Ebensburg.

The Ebensburg native has been in business for 50 years.

“I learned the business from the ground up. I attended estate and farm sales and learned the operations on how things worked,” Templeton said.

Templeton graduated from Central Cambria High School in 1972 and went to Reisch World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa.

“They taught you the foundation of conducting an auction and the different kinds of auctions,” said Tempeton, who received his Pennsylvania license in 1973.

His grandfather was an auctioneer in the early 20th century in Summerhill Township.

His father, Don, was a car dealer and in the cattle business before he became a Cambria County commissioner.

Wayne served as general manager of the Ebensburg Auto Auction, working with his brother-in-law, Ben Davis, from 1973-98.

“I liked the excitement of the auction business and the camaraderie of the people at the car auctions,” Templeton said.

Over the years, he became well versed in the automotive side of the auctioneering business.

In August, he completed the sale of Munster Auto Sales and Service, which had been in business for

50 years, after being contacted by owner Howdy Eckenrode.

“There is nobody better. There is no slow time with Wayne. He is a super nice guy, very family oriented,” Eckenrode said. “Everyone wants him. He can’t keep up with all of the calls. He knows the business better than most people.”

During his career, Templeton has sold close to

50 auto dealerships, repair shops and body shops.

About 30 years ago, Templeton Auctioneers diversified into doing property appraisals for banks, attorneys and insurance companies.

“Wayne is in total charge. He is a no-nonsense, good businessman. He is totally reliable, very competent. He works hard and he gets the job done. Wayne has a keen knowledge of the value of the assets he is auctioning. … He also knows how to advertise the sales to attract bidders,” said Ebensburg attorney Jerry Neugebauer. “There was a time when a guy wanted to sell cuckoo clocks so he called Wayne. He knew how to attract people who collect cuckoo clocks. He sold every one of them.”

After conducting thousands of sales over the years, Templeton remembers a few as special.

“There was a sale in Carrolltown about four years ago in a home that had been closed up for 26 years. They contacted us to sell the contents. It was like stepping into a time capsule. It was full of antiques. That was a fun day,” Templeton said.

In 1995, he did an auction for a woman whose sister had been a milliner — a person who makes and sells women’s hats. That sale drew people from Hollywood, San Francisco and New York City who had theaters and playhouses and were interested in the old hats.

And there was a sale at an old house in Northern Cambria in which $276,000 in cash was found in old cigar boxes.

Templeton gets lots of calls but doesn’t do every sale.

“We do a walk through of the property. If it is not cost effective, we will not do it,” Templeton said.

“Wayne has an exceptional business moral compass always pointed north. He is selective in the clients he works with and particular about who he has helping to set up and work the auctions,” said daughter-in-law Becky Templeton, who, along with her husband, David, is an auctioneer and works for the business.

Community involvement is very important to Templeton.

“We have sponsored a Little League team in Ebensburg since 1976. I have been a member of the Dauntless Fire Company for 50 years, and am a member of Summit Lodge. We do benefit auctions for churches. We do the Cambria County livestock auction for the fair. I have been involved with that since I was in the 4-H club in the 1960s,” Templeton said.

Templeton, 69, said he has no plans to retire.

“I feel as good as I did when I started; you get street smart after a while. Reaching 50 years is exciting. I feel good about it,” Templeton said.

Eventually, David and Becky may take over the business. They will have big shoes to fill.

“He is a hard worker, a self-starter and always has the desire to keep busy, whether it’s working or in some kind of recreation,” David Templeton said.

“After working for 50-plus years, most people would have their eye on retirement, but he truly enjoys what he does and loves to stay active,” Becky Templeton said. “People really like the speed and efficiency of Wayne and his entire crew, he keeps the sales moving quickly and swiftly. … Customers love his patriotism; he starts every auction with the American flag and Pledge of Allegiance.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.