SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Joe Roszkowski and his parents were influenced by his grandparents who came from Poland, and whose characters were enhanced by hard work and diligence.

“My parents are second generation,” he said. “They are my role models.”

His parents’ and grandparents’ blue collar work ethic inspired Roszkowski. 

“Humility is the strongest word in the human language,” he said. “It helps you keep everything in perspective.”  

Starting when he was 15 years old, Roszkowski began working in the restaurant business. On Labor Day weekend in 1983, Roszkowski and his partner, David Dekle, opened the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores. In 1985, they opened another unit on the Mobile Bay Causeway.  Roszkowski serves as president of the company, and his wife, Mary Lou, is the director of operations. The staff includes 14 managers and 200 employees.

Roszkowski said his job is different every day. 

“It has taught me a lot about myself and other people,” he said.

What he enjoys most is the interaction with customers and related businesses.  With having a large employee base, he has the pleasure of mingling with different personalities – from the kids starting at entry level to the seasoned employees.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Roszkowski later moved around the state to Cincinatti and Cleveland.  He has taken community college classes as well as classes at the Culinary Institute of America. He was transferred with his position with Aramark to this area in 1982 to the Gulf State Park Resort.

Roszkowski and Mary Lou have been married for 25 years. They have two children: Joshua, 20, a student at the University of Alabama majoring in business; and Victoria, 16, a student at Fairhope High School. The family has two cats and one dog.

He said his wife says he is “way too driven,” but he said he does enjoy relaxing at his house on Fish River where he and his family often participate in water sports. 

“I enjoy jet skiing with my daughter,” he said. 

Often, he and his wife go for a boat ride and end up eating hamburgers at Big Daddy’s.  

“My wife is my best friend,” he said. 

In his spare time, he has restored four wooden boats.

A driving force in his life is his religion and he is active in the Catholic community. 

“I just love my Catholic faith,” he said. “It is the truth. It has really brought to the center of my life the humility.”  

Roszkowski is the president of the Archangel Corporation, a non-profit corporation trying to start a Catholic radio station.  He is a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.  In September, he is coordinating a Cursillo Catholic retreat weekend for men. 

Though he is the president of a thriving business, he said he enjoys the simple things in life.

When asked how he sees life, he said he prefers to see the cup as being “half full,” rather than half empty.

“I try to see the good in people — and it is often easy to do.”