People You Know: Sam's Greeter Lina Muscrave

by Tracy Patterson

If you have been to Sam’s Club in the past 27 years, chances are you have been welcomed into the club by greeter Lina Musgrave, the always smartly-dressed and loyal employee who considers Sam’s as her second family and was once told by the late Sam Walton himself to “take care of the members.”

Background: Born in Cadiz, Negros Occidental in the Visayan Region of the Philippines

Previous Career: Host of a television talk show called “The Sundowner Show” in Cebu City, Philippines. The show focused on students and what was going on in their lives

Customer Service: One time a member mentioned that his mom was in the hospital, so Musgrave took her a flower after work. “She cried when she saw me,” Musgrave said. “The woman said, ‘I thought you only cared for us in the club.’” Musgrave replied, “No. You’re like our family. You keep our business going, so we have to take care of you.”

Career Accomplishments: Musgrave has helped the Abilene Sam’s Club become No. 1 in its market of 13 clubs in converting members into credit card holders.

Community Connections: Musgrave serves as vice president of the Philippine Friendship Organization in Abilene and is president of their dance group, which performs Philippine folk dances at Abilene events. She also sings in the choir at Sacred Heart Church.

Family: She has been married to Don, who is retired from the Air Force, for 45 years. After moving around the country with the Air Force, the two settled in Abilene in 1971. Their two sons also live in Abilene: Don Jr. is retired from the military and Brian is currently taking online classes. Don and Lina also adopted their niece, Naneth, who now lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

Colleague Kudos: Raquel Rushing, asset protection manager at the Abilene Sam’s Club, says that Musgrave is compassionate, with the “biggest heart of anyone I know.”