| Looking_for_911 |
08-28-2009 12:26 PM |
I've been thinking about this post a long time. I have met countless "celebrities," sports stars, luminaries of every ilk, captains of industry and many people who were rich enough to take a chunk out of the National Debt if they so chose to.
But who has really impressed me?
After all this thought I keep going back to one man I used to work for many years ago.
When I was in my early 20's I through a friend lined up an job interview to work for a formal wear company renting tuxedos. The day of the interview I made my way into downtown Birmingham and parked about a block away. As I walked down the sidewalk on that hot, Summer's day I spied an older man sweeping the sidewalk in front of the shop I was headed to. When I got to the corner and approached the door he stopped sweeping and spoke to me... maybe, "Good morning" or some such pleasantry. I told him I had an interview with so and so and he directed me inside. I saw the young-ish guy inside and as the interview was winding down I was sure I had the job. The guy I was interviewing with told me he wanted me to meet his father.
Imagine my surprise when I was escorted to the upstairs office of the sidewalk sweeper I'd met less than an hour before.
I sat and had a long chat with one of the most unassuming men I have ever known. He owned the 6-location company - with a partner at the time - but was as down to earth as one could be.
While his partner was somewhat flashy in appearance wearing jewelry and driving expensive luxury cars the "sidewalk sweeper" was modest and drove a Toyota wagon. The flashy partner vacationed in Europe. The "sidewalk sweeper" went to Colorado. The "sidewalk sweeper" talked to you straight and you knew where you stood. The flashy partner was a bit oily like a bad used car salesman.
As it turned out the "sidewalk sweeper" ended up staying in business after a nasty division of the company. The flashy guy sold his half out years ago and that has went down the tubes as far as one can tell.
I was so impressed at the time because of seeing the owner of the company doing a job that he could have easily handed off to anyone working for him. In fact he did, later... I swept that sidewalk many times and never felt as if it was beneath me. An unplanned lesson or part of a clever plan to motivate the kid coming in for an interview....? I don't know. I think it was innocent and unplanned knowing him like I did. We just happened to cross paths at that particular moment but it made an impresison on me that has lasted half my life and will remain with me always.
The "sidewalk sweeper's" name was Major Burch. Not a military man. He was named after a horse. And one of the most impressive men I have ever known. I told one of his son's how much he meant to me years ago. I hope he relayed it to his dad.
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