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[FEB 26, 2000]   John Britt may seem like a meek and quiet man, but he has left his unique mark from California to Florida, making lasting impressions in Utah, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois and many places in between.  He has a hobby that allows him to lift the spirits of the people he encounters.  About 33 years ago Britt discovered the art of calligraphy writing in a book that he came across while working as a glass inspector at the P.P.G. plant in Lincoln.  The book, “The Speedball Alphabet” contained Old English writing that caught his eye because of its beauty.  After purchasing his own calligraphy kit, Britt taught himself how to write in that same style.  He says that the secret was that he just relaxed his hand and the talent then  developed.

What he does with that simple art form is the interesting thing that endears Britt to so many.  For approximately 10 years, he has been taking his calligraphy kit and some 5' x 7' note cards with him everywhere he goes.  When he stops to eat, he acquaints himself with his waiter or waitress, and then writes some brief words of encouragement for them, or maybe just their name with little flowers or butterflies around it.  He has found that it tends to make a lasting impression.  Says Britt, “When we were visiting our son in Dixon, Missouri, we ate at Mac’s Cafe and I made some cards for the girls working there.  After that, they knew me.  They didn’t know my son who lived there, but they knew me because of my cards.”

[John and Shirley Britt]

Britt met his wife, Shirley, in Maryland while they were both serving in the Navy.  They  easily recall the exact date they met, January 2, 1956.  Little things in life are important to this couple.  They have four children, three grand children and “one and a half” great-grand children (A new one is on the way..).  They later settled in Logan County, where Mrs. Britt was from originally, and have lived here for 34 years. Britt has  been retired from the Logan Correctional Center for two years, after working 20 years as a guard. He used to make his calligraphy messages and leave them in the watch tower at the prison,for the guards on the next shift.  “Of course, the inmates liked them too.”

 
[ John. Britt giving a calligraphy message to Cracker Barrel server,  Brandy Sutterfield.]

John and Shirley Britt love to travel, and John makes and leaves his special calling cards everywhere they go.  “About ten years ago, we took the train all the way out to Salt Lake City to see my brother.  Every meal on the train, I made a card for the stewardess.  She liked them so much, she said she was going to frame them and put them in her apartment, somewhere in California.”
     Britt had his own working display at the Lincoln Railsplitter Festival in 1997 and 1998, where his calligraphy crafts were presented to the public.  He hopes to be at the 2000  festival as well.  People have told him that he should do his calligraphy art to make money,  but he says, “That would take the fun out of it.”  Why does he do it?  Because of the effect it has on people, he explains  He likes to give a little bit of joy and encouragement by writing sayings like: “Every day is beautiful as long as you believe it to be so,” or “Believe in your dreams, for dreams can come true,” and “Friends are flowers that never fade.”  He likes making them one at a time, intending them for just one special person at a time.  Says Lincoln Cracker Barrel server, Cindy Newhouse, who has been the recipient of many of Britt’s calligraphy creations, “They always brighten my day.  I’m always glad to see them [the Britts] come in.”

[John Britt writing one of his calligraphy messages.]

[Curtis Sutterfield]

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