When I first started at Philly Turf, the sales force had tons of experience and I was just in my early twenties. The two senior sales reps were Barney McFadden & Bob Stokes. Barney end up working at PTC for 42 years and Bob for 30! They both were legends and I was very lucky to get to learn from them both. Barney passed away a few years ago and Bob just passed away this weekend at the age of 84.
As word was spread around between the old PTC employees and customers, there were so many great Bob Stokes stories today. Bob's nickname was "Mother" Stokes. I always thought it was because Bob cared for his customers like a Mother would her kids. He always seemed to be picking up parts and running things around for customers.
But I don't think that is what I will remember Bob for....He was the king of the one liners!
I will never forget one of the first trips I took to a Toro training event, we had to be in shirt & tie.
As I walked across the court yard of the hotel, Bob was standing outside his room took one look at me and said " You look like a bag of laundry with a tie!". Obviously, a 23 year old kid might not get the importance of the ironing board in the room. I am hoping the old Milorganite book that someone was keeping with all of Bob's comments might surface at some point.
I sent out an email to some of the customers who I thought would want to know about Bob today and I got this in response from one and I think it is right on:
"Without a doubt, Bob was one of PTC's finest. He always did his business with professionalism but added a sincere humanistic side when he visited. Quality you don't see often in today's world.
Rest in peace Robert!"
We truly lost one of the great ones!
WJC
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