Downtown reflected in shoeshine.(Commentary)(Column)

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Snake was proprietor of the shoeshine stand at Cento Shoes on South Meridian Street and, like he said, he could "make your shoes shine like new money every time." For over 27 years, he applied his spit and polish with lively commentary on any subject you chose. He was a downtown historian and authority on the local scene.

Snake suffered from a variety of ailments, but it was arthritis that finally sent him into retirement. While watching him fold that lanky 6-foot-4-inch frame to properly apply the brush and cloth, it seemed he wasn't physically suited for his profession. But he was a master at the patter, and that was an essential part …