In the summer of 1955, John R. Thomas' father drove the family from Columbus, Ohio to the Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico.

Their blue 1949 Ford pulled a trailer behind the car in the day, and the family camped out at night.

That trip was the first time Thomas, who was 14 years old at the time, had seen the weed-like grass and red ocotillo that flowers when it rains in the Southwest.

"I was just completely taken aback by the beauty of it all. It's something that's stayed with me," Thomas said.

His second cousin, Natachee Scott Momaday -- a Cherokee woman who had left her tribe to marry a white man -- was teaching day school in the village. Her son, Pulitzer Prize-winning author N. Scott Momaday (House Made of Dawn, Way to Rainy Mountain) would draw on his experiences in New Mexico just as Thomas would later draw on the styles of the region for his State College business, The Southwestern Store, 109 S. Pugh St.

Blocks away, Thomas practices his other trade, journalism, as a University news writing instructor, but the newly-opened store occupies most of his day.

Thomas started the store after reading an advertisement for Southwestern inventory in the Centre Daily Times under "Business Opportunities."

"I didn't call for a couple of weeks, but it kept reappearing in the paper," he said. "I think I was the first one who called and went over to see the inventory."

Thomas thought the words "serious inquiries only" gave the advertisement a hostile tone.

He bought the merchandise from a woman whose business was not doing well in Lewistown. He stored the pottery, jewelry and rugs in his home and garage until the store opened in June 1994.

Although he found his stock quickly, it took him and his partner months to open the store. They had to find a location, negotiate a lease and decorate the store.

The strings of ristras -- a Spanish word for red peppers -- attract much attention in the store but generate few sales. The more popular saddle blankets with Navajo designs and other patterns decorate the tan walls.

Despite the store's Southwestern style, Thomas was born, raised and educated in Ohio. And if it were not for meeting Jane Mutchler, he might never have opened a business in State College.

On their first date, they ate dinner at the Fisherman's Wharf in Columbus, Ohio.

"I soon learned she had more refined culinary tastes, but it wasn't like I was taking her to McDonald's."

Four years later when Mutchler decided to leave Ohio State and teach in Arizona, Thomas went with her. In 1991 when Penn State offered her a job, he came to State College with Mutchler, now an associate professor of accounting.

They will have been together 10 years this April, but neither have had much luck with marriage, Thomas said. He has been divorced three times and Mutchler was also married before. However, Mutchler's accounting skills make her an "invaluable" business partner for Thomas who takes a hands-off approach to handling customers.

Mutchler said he gives her a similar freedom in their relationship.

"I do travel a lot and he doesn't complain a lot about that" she said.

When Mutchler was out of town during Thanksgiving, Thomas visited his friends Phil and Sharon Shane of State College.

The Shane's 12-year-old daughter, Bethan, wanted to make animals out of balloons, and Thomas got down on the floor where she taught him how to make a dog.

"A lot of people wouldn't have quite as much patience," said Phil Shane, assistant professor of accounting. "He didn't come over to see her. He came to see us, but they had fun together doing those balloons."

Thomas also puts his patience to use doing the New York Times' Sunday crossword puzzle for an hour and a half.

Patiently was how he also began teaching Communications 260W --news writing Tuesday morning.

He started class early. After handing out the syllabi, Thomas --dressed in a gray cardigan over a button-down shirt --patiently stood at the front of the room. He waited several minutes for his 13 students to read it and two late-comers to take their places behind a computer.

"This will probably be the hardest course you'll have at Penn State as far as journalism goes," Thomas said. The course is the first writing class for communication majors.

Later that day, with The Associated Press Stylebook on his store's counter top, he corrected the students' compositions and attached a personalized, typed note.

Thomas took his first news writing course 35 years ago. He got his first real job at The Repository in Canton, Ohio by reading a classified advertisement in Editor and Publisher.

"They asked me if I could type and that was about the only thing they asked you in those days," he said. "From what I understand, it's a much tighter and leaner market today."

Thomas later reported for papers in Canton, Portsmouth and Dayton, Ohio where he covered the state legislature and politics.

He eventually became so interested in politics that he worked for the state government in public information during Democratic Governor Jack Gilligan's one term in office.

"I just liked being around this crew of politicians that was allured by Jack Gilligan. He was our sort of Kennedy," Thomas, a registered Democrat, said.

The governor's supporters referred to Ohio as "Gilligan's Island."

Thomas also got involved in the labor movement as the director of public relations for the Ohio AFL-CIO from 1977 to 1988. He lobbied for pro-worker legislation and promoted candidates who represented the interests of working people.

"I've always liked the idea of unions and collective bargaining. When you're strong at the ballot box, you're strong at the collective bargaining table. It's just the way it works," he said.

Thomas is currently applying his business and labor skills to The Southwestern Store.

"I didn't sit down and figure out how much money I had to take in to be a success. I know you have to be in business two or three years to really see whether it's a success or not," he said.

Mutchler and Thomas will fly to New Mexico during spring break to search for new merchandise.

"We love the Southwest," he said. "We'll go back out there someday -- and stay there."