By Maddison Reynolds
“Chuck,” Charles, Coach. The 60-year-old Charles Law goes by many names. His students, though, know him as Mr. Law. Law has achieved great success in his business. Law is an amazing entrepreneur. He has constantly worked hard to achieve his goals. Now he is able to share his stories with the students of Captain Shreve.
How did your business begin?
I started out from Captain Shreve High School. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. My dad let me work during the school year but I was going to have to work full time. I ended up working for an oil business and fell in love with the oil industry. The next year I enrolled in Louisiana Tech in petroleum engineering. After a year and a half petroleum engineering bottomed out. I ended up going to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There, I opened up two restaurants, Toudans and Cadillac Bar and Grill. In Colorado, I was able to save about 1500 dollars, waiting tables and managing those restaurants. When I came back from Colorado, I went to LSUS. My advisor there told me, “Look, Chuck, you probably can do more than business administration. You should get your accounting degree.”
During that same time, my best friend’s mother had passed away and he inherited $25,000. Along with my $15,000, I borrowed $10,000 and we opened up our first business. It was a clothing store called Paradise Road.
A young man who had just inherited 27 million dollars came into the store. He asked me to come and work for his family business. I worked off and on for that family business for 17 years. I got my accounting degree and passed the CPA test.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I’ve just always had the spirit. I began making money at a very young age. I started a paper route when I was 13 years old. Being independent and always having my own money just stuck with me.
What challenges did you face during your journey?
Unfortunately, my wife and I lost a baby. At that time I was so close to getting my CPA that I had to stay in state. Paying for school with my own money was also a challenge for me. That was until I started working for a family business. Every time I would ask them to go back to school, they would give me more money.
Who or what kept you going?
My drive. Once I started becoming a CPA for other clients. I had to keep up with current taxes. People started to rely on me. Even though at times I thought I would give up for many reasons, I carried on because those people relied on me.
Was there any point in your life where you wanted to give up?
Yes. Just recently with Covid and the challenges of the lockdown and having multiple jobs. I thought, “Am I doing too much?”
Who or what inspired you?
Early on, my father inspired me. My father was a sergeant in the military. As a young boy, I remember him getting dressed everyday in that sharp dressed uniform. He never missed work. He was a provider and a protector. He was able to retire from the military young and went on to banking. He showed me what it meant to be a man.
I also had really good teachers and coaches in high school. Those people made me want to become a teacher. They realized I was a pretty good athlete and that I knew how to handle my responsibilities. I just knew someday I wanted to teach and coach. Although, I got the coaching out of my system.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
Being a military child, I had to move around a lot through the seventh, ninth, and tenth grade. I was constantly new but my teachers and coaches took me under their wing. They made me feel special.