Stories

After my short university career and the student job, I needed a new job. I don't recall the circumstances, but I ran into an old high school friend, Harold, who told me his company was looking for someone to work in their shipping and receiving.

Tommy Ingram, the office manager for the hydraulic section of Motion Industries, interviewed me. He hired me on the spot and asked me to come to work the next day. The next morning, Motion issued me blue work clothes with my name over the pocket and steel-toed boots. I filled out paperwork and then met my new workmates.

Ron Stith, the inside sales guy, was hilarious, fun, and a bit crazy; I liked him instantly.

Beverly Brock Brice Cooper Harper was the office administrator, attractive, but with a resting bitch face and a bad attitude. We became good friends, but it took a while.

Kathy Bell, the secretary-goddess, was the hottest girl in the place and was sexually harassed by the guys in the Hose Shop. Had this shit gone on today, Kathy would own the company. She liked me because I stood up for her and stopped their bad behavior.

Hugh, the warehouse manager, and Charlie, the head of shipping and receiving, kept things moving in and out of the mechanical warehouse and taught me more than anyone else.

I worked in the hydraulic and pneumatic section of the warehouse. My direct supervisor was a young guy whose name I don't remember. This kid was lazy, slick, and worthless, rarely on time, and often didn't show up for work. You could tell by the pile of unopened received shipments sitting on the floor. He told me that if we worked too hard or fast, we would work ourselves out of a job. Yeah, he was a Communist.

I tried to figure it out but didn't understand the whole process, so I sought out Hugh and Charlie. They explained the process and answered my thousands of questions. Before long, Tommy fired the kid, and I was running the warehouse.

Tommy asked me to work overtime, but the problem was more than one guy could handle. I got him to hire Bill Prickett, a friend from high school, my college roommate, and a good guy. We tackled the problem together. We became heroes to the company and our customers as we began shipping much-needed parts and components.

Next, I began rearranging the warehouse to make it more efficient. I inventoried what was on hand, covered the city sales desk for Ron, and had Tommy buy a proper toolset and workbench. I began converting hydraulic pumps, valves, and motors. The hose guys taught me how to make hydraulic hoses, and the mechanical guys taught me about power transmission products.

During the four years I worked there, my personal life and the company changed—I met and married Becki, I began attending a church that emphasized Military Service as a responsibility, and Motion Industries became part of Genuine Parts. Tommy, Kathy, Ron, and Beverly all left.

I went into the Army in 1976.

When I left the Army in 1980, I returned to Motion Industries. They hired me into their Management Training Program. I attended schools, shadowed the salesmen, answered phones, worked the warehouse to refresh my memory on inventory, stock numbers, and procedures, and manned the City Sales Desk. Everything was going well until the company hired a college kid for a job that I deserved. I should have seen that coming.

My personal life changed again—I got divorced and met Kady. The only people I liked at Motion were Stan, a Vietnam Veteran, Woodlawn grad, and great guy, Janet and her husband Alan, and Ken. I missed the Army and knew I shouldn't have left.

I reenlisted in the Army in March 1981, married Kady that December, and said goodbye to Motion Industries forever. No Hard Feelings.