Eric Andrus

Eric Andrus, Bridge City High School 2001 Alumnus, grew up in Bridge City helping his grandparents and mother, who owned and operated Central Office Supply on Texas Avenue. Even though he did not like licking envelopes, folding flyers, or helping where needed, he never dreamed one day he would inherit his grandpa’s business. 

William E. (Bill) Smith always felt he wanted to start a business that his children would one day work in and eventually take over. Bill’s daughter, Carolyn, worked for a small business that made rubber stamps, and since he wanted to sell his business, Bill and Betty Smith purchased it in 1975. They eventually added office supplies and a printing press. As the small business grew, Bill saw property for sale on Texas Avenue and knew it was a good move for the business to grow. Along the way, his wife was the bookkeeper, then his daughter Carolyn.

In 1987 the business burnt after a burgherly. Some of the things the robber took were liquid whiteout, but the damage from the fire was massive, and Bill had to rebuild. The robber was found guilty but served a short term for the crime.

By 1993, Bill had an opportunity to buy the local newspaper, The Penny Record, from Shannon Messer. He later sold it to Roy Dunn. During those years, Bill was very active in the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce, receiving many awards for his dedication and served a term on the Bridge City City Council. 

Along the way, Bill’s grandson, Eric Andrus, helped his mom, Carolyn Smith Andrus, and grandfather at Central Office Supply. Eric’s father, Tommy Andrus, graduated from Bridge City High School in 1969. Eric’s mother, Carolyn, attended school in Bridge City but graduated early by attending night school and finished at West Orange-Stark High School. Eric would help after school and on weekends as needed. “I didn’t like working there at first,” commented Eric. While attending Bridge City High School, Eric was active in The Art Club and theater performances. He loved graphic design, which would benefit him one day when he would inherit the office supply business from his grandfather. Eric graduated from Bridge City High School in 2001 and took college classes at night while working in the office supply shop during the day. He also took online design courses and took over Central Office Supply in 2005 when his grandfather, W.E. (Bill) Smith,  retired. Eric simplified the business name to COS Printing. Bill knew his grandson had a gift for design, something he did not have. Bill had to design advertising, flyers, etc., on a lighted table and knew how to run his printing press very well. “Today, all Eric has to do is sit at his computer and design things, then send it straight to the full-color printer. I’m glad he has the skills.”    

Eric’s mother, Carolyn, is still the bookkeeper for the business since his grandmother, Betty, passed away in 2009. “I couldn’t keep up the business running without long-time employees like Marilyn Ketterman Malagarie, a BCHS graduate in 1970, and Linda Rose, who have both worked at the business for at least 15 years each,” commented Eric. 

Eric has been very active in the community, just like his grandfather. He was president-elect of the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce in 2010 then served as president in 2011. He received Business of the Month both in 2011 and 2018 and Citizen of the Year in 2019. Eric also serves as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. He has served as Ambassador chairman and the chamber’s bi-annual murder mystery dinner theater fundraiser. Eric is also a member of the Orange Community Players Theater since 2016. He also served on the Bridge City city council for nine years until recently, when he moved outside the city limits. 

Eric has been a member of the Bridge City/Orangefield Rotary Club since 2007 and is a past president. He received their Paul Harris Fellow Award, Distinguished Spotlight Award, Rotarian of the Year in 2010, the Roll of Fame Award, Presidential Citation Award, the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, and volunteers each year for the Rotary’s annual bunny run and egg hunt. He enjoys dressing up as Josh the Otter and teaches water safety at the Rotary camp. His favorite costume is Bat Man. Eric participates in the annual Light The World Project Glow Christmas program, which benefits the Bridge City/Orangefield Ministerial Alliance. He also received the Bridge City Masonic Lodge Community Builders Award in 2018.

In Eric’s spare time, he enjoys woodworking, traveling with his wife, Caitlin Herman Andrus, and acting. Caitlin graduated from Orangefield High School in 2004.   Eric and Caitlin had their first child in 2020, a little girl.

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Story by Charlotte Schexnider Chiasson