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Greg began with an account of the process leading up to his appearance as the week’s speaker, charged with the task of navigating the path between boring and narcissistic, he said, while regaling the group with his “life story.”
Dave Commack, he explained, had called, outlined the concept of occasionally inviting a Rotarian to speak at a meeting of his or her life and times, and then added a forlorn appeal that he “was desperate.” Greg recalled that he reflected it was probably true, given that a name beginning with W is usually at the bottom of any list, and succumbed to Dave’s entreaties. Whether Dave was truly desperate, or not, Greg’s charming narrative well demonstrated that his choice as lead-off hitter was sound.
Greg recalled that he grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, where he went to schools within a mile of his home, and then matriculated at the nearby University of Oklahoma. He graduated in 1981 with a degree in business administration. During his schooling, Greg had made a little money to help make ends meet by working part time at the local Ford dealership, beginning in high school with car washing, and eventually progressing to some sales while still an undergraduate. So it was only natural that when Greg received his degree, he took the job of credit manager at the dealership.
Then, as fate would have it, in the process of calling in loan applications to the dealership’s bank, he began to form a relationship with a young woman who took the applications. The relationship soon advanced into courtship, and ultimately marriage to wife Donna.
Donna, Greg recounted, was from a family of five children, and wanted also to have five. But nevertheless, after two daughters and a son between 1986 and 1988 (whew), Donna thought better of that plan, and the family grew no more.
Meanwhile, Greg was advancing at the dealership, and eventually became manager of truck sales, twice winning recognition as manager of the year. Despite his success, however, he became frustrated with the work, resulting from constant, rapid turnover in sales staff causing him continually to devote his time to training, and began to think of a career change.
A few years before Greg began to think about finding another opportunity, his Dad and a friend had started a small hardware store, with a plan that after a few years Greg’s father would sell out and the friend would take full responsibility. But fate intervened again by contriving the opposite outcome: the friend unexpectedly died, leaving Greg’s Dad with full responsibility. For help, he turned to Greg to buy the store.
Greg recalled at the time he doubted it would be possible for him to be a success in the hardware business, but nevertheless decided to give it a shot. He and Donna sold their home, their cars, everything they could to raise money. At first they had tough sledding, and lived hand to mouth. But although they were barely making it to the end of each month, Greg said there was a major positive side too: the opportunity to work closely with his Dad.
Finally, the store turned the corner, and Greg began to be able to hire some help. Apparently, he had good insight: he recalled that he found people who were good employees and continued with him for years.
The business expanded and prospered, and Donna worked as a teacher. Eventually Greg said, they began to consider retirement. Over the years they had come to enjoy Colorado, and spent vacations frequently at a place in the mountains between Crede and Lake City, known as Oleo Ranch. There they met a man who had enjoyed such financial success in life that, Greg said, he could live anywhere. One day, they fell to talking about towns in Colorado, and the wealthy friend proclaimed, “Pagosa Springs is the place.” In October 2010, Greg recalled, after a couple of visits to Pagosa, he and Donna bought a house in the Lakes area. A few years later, Greg sold the hardware store to the son of one of his original employees, and he and Donna retired and moved to Pagosa.
“Retirement is great,” Greg proclaimed. But he did note two complaints about Pagosa: the cell coverage is lousy, and there is so much to do. As an example, Greg said he and Donna bought a canoe, then loved canoeing on the lakes so much they bought another for family to use, and then had so many friends who loved it too they bought a third.
But flat water alone was not enough, so Greg and Donna bought a used, commercial river raft too, for use on local rivers. Comically, Greg described the first launch of the raft on the San Juan just south of downtown, which he said within 30 seconds led to the thought, “My gosh, this is where we die.” But the craft was restored to good order within a few minutes, eventually yielding a happy ride downstream for 15 or so miles.
Greg participates in the local Search and Rescue organization, led by the Archuleta County Sheriff’s office. “A fantastic, dedicated group,” he said, “all willing to go all out for a stranger” in harm’s way.
Greg’s story concluded with a brief reference to golf, which he has recently taken up. Like many, he has found his relationship with golf complex: among other points, he recalled it restored to his vocabulary the “four-letter words” he had long ago abandoned.
Greg finished to a hearty round of applause. Good work, Dave!