Harry & Zora Barber
Founders
Zora Sluga Barber (1917-1983)
Harry Barber (1921-1984)
Married in 1947, Harry and Zora were lifetime partners in developing successful businesses in Waverly, NY. They met while both working at IBM in Endicott, NY after WWII.
Zora was a native of Belle Valley, Ohio, where she was the only girl with seven brothers, four older and three younger. Her parents were Croatian and Slovenian immigrants who lived on a very small family farm to assist her father’s coal mining vocation. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from White Cross Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
A native of Waverly, NY, Harry was a graduate of Waverly High School, class of 1940. After a brief time with IBM in Endicott, NY, Harry entered the U.S Army Air Corps, where he received his wings as a B-25 pilot. After the war, Harry returned to IBM where he met Zora, who was working there as an industrial nurse.
They married in 1947 and resided in Waverly, NY their entire lives. Starting in 1947, Harry and Zora built and owned several successful businesses, while Harry continued his career at IBM. Included among these businesses were the El-Ba Cabins and Motel, El-Ba Farms Ice Cream and miniature golf course, El-Ba Kitchen Restaurant, El-Ba Trailer Parks, and other endeavors.
Harry was the quintessential entrepreneur, and his wife Zora was very instrumental in his success as she supported him by managing the books, daily problems, and raising their children Dale, Jeff, and Jane.
Harry was also President of the Waverly School Board in the 1960’s during a time of school construction due to district centralization. Harry and Zora started State Line Auto Auction with the first auction being held on June 18, 1981.
