What's Your Favorite?

Venerable Springfield auctioneer Billy Long rattles off some answers to our questions.

An auctioneer’s always in a precarious situation because you’ve got to make the buyer think that they got a bargain, and you’ve got to make the seller think that they got all that it was worth,” explains Springfield institution and auctioneer Billy Long. Long manages to balance on that fence with a disarming blend of honesty and humor. You can’t achieve success and longevity in the auction business without being trustworthy.

“My dad took me to my first auction when I was probably 2 or 3 years old riding on his shoulders,” says Long. Since that time, Long has learned quite a bit about the business, and the people who attend auctions. “I learned to read people,” he says. “I can tell before you bid on an item that you’re going to bid on it.”

The people may be the same, but auctions have changed decidedly in the time since Long started out selling pots and pans and dishes and antiques. Long has played a big part in ushering in those changes locally. “The real estate auctions were kind of an afterthought,” he says. “It was kind of like, ‘We’re here selling the junk, if while we’re here we can get a bid…’ where I wanted to turn it more into where the real estate was what you were wanting to sell.”

The real estate auctions have become so prominent that Long has named them Mega Event auctions to describe their size, but the adjective mega also seems to aptly describe Long’s personality. In fact, he has previously had not one but two stints displaying his personality on the radio for KWTO’s Morning Line while still managing his full-time auction work.

Ultimately, it’s auctioneering that’s in his blood, though. He can’t seem to escape it, even away from the job. “I’ll be eating on a dinner plate and turn it over and see where it was made,” chuckles Long. “It can be messy eating.”

What’s Your Favorite…

Cool thing sold at an auction?
“Sterling Silver Tiffany punch bowl. It went for $99,000, and there wasn’t even any punch in it.”

Odd thing sold at an auction?
“Manure spreader. The trouble with a manure spreader is you can never get the owner to stand behind it.”

Deal someone has gotten?
“It wasn’t my auction, but a lady up in Lake of the Ozarks stood all day to get a picture. At the end of the day, she paid $9 for it. She later had Sotheby’s sell it for about $65,000.”

Thing about having your face on a billboard?
“That it’s my high school picture.”

Number of gallons in a cowboy hat?
“Ten.”

Unit of measurement?
“Feet.”

Type of screwdriver?
“Phillips.”

Cereal?
“Grape Nuts.”

Laundry Cycle?
“Heavy.”

Scent?
“Does chocolate smell?”

Coin?
“Quarter.”

Way to hold paper together?
“None of the above. I like my papers loose.”

Amount for a down payment?
“Ten percent.”

Kind of gum?
“Juicy Fruit.”

Form of precipitation?
“Rain.”

Thing about Springfield?
“It’s home.”

Thing about your daughters?
“They’re good girls, never had of minute of problems with any of them.”

417-land saying?
“Don’t worry about the mule being blind. Just load the wagon.”

Thing about having a radio show?
“I just loved doing it. I never was book smart, never was much of a student, but I had a quick wit.”

Thing about not having a radio show?
“Not having to get up at 4:30 in the morning. Now I get to get up at 5:30.”

Mystery Meets

Jeff Houghton will interview Billy Long on August 1 on The Mystery Hour, Jeff’s monthly talk show presented by The Skinny Improv, 301 Park Central East. The Mystery Hour is at 10 p.m.

Visit theskinnyimprov.com or call 417-831-5233 for info and tickets.