90 Years. 90 Stories.

Mark Moss

Mark is a former employee of Purcell Tire and worked for the company for 25 years.

A career change I never expected. My very first experience with Purcell Tire was when I was about 12 years old. My father owned Flat River Shell, and a salesman named Ronnie Politte came to my dad’s station. We bought tires from Purcell Tire, and Ronnie was good enough to teach me about retread tires at a very early age. Little did I know that Purcell Tire would one day come into my life many years later. I was working in retail when a friend who worked for Purcell at the time told me to check them out. I made the call, filled out the application, and went for the interview with Marvin Bozart. After the interview he told me he didn’t have any openings in the plant. I apologized for taking up his time when he interrupted me and asked if I was interested in a sales position. I had no idea how to be a salesman. He said that’s ok. I see something in you. I think you’ve got what it takes. I really didn’t think I would ever hear from anyone again. Then Ronnie Politte and Tom Haynes showed up at my work and asked me if they could take me to lunch to talk about a sales position. Well, when we meet at the restaurant, nearly every person I work with at my job is having lunch at the same place. I’m thinking if this doesn’t happen, I’m probably unemployed after this lunch is over. They said, So you want to be a salesman? Sell me something.” After about 30 minutes they said, "When can you start?" I was totally shocked. And that was the start of a whole new career with Purcell Tire. Immediately began training me. Giving me every opportunity to succeed in what began as a 25-year life with a real family environment. About a year into the career, that was when I met Juanita. It was during a transition time with the company. I was asked a point-blank question: What have you heard? I answered fully and honestly; not knowing her, I didn’t know what to expect. She said, “Thank you.” Since you are fully honest with me, my office is always open to you as long as you are with us. And she was a boss and friend who never went back on her word. If I were to call her today, I knew she would be there for me. Bob was a good teacher, too. I was feeling pretty proud of myself; I had just won a new account, and it was a big one. When he came by my desk, I popped up and showed him a check for a great amount of money and boasted about how much I just made for him... His response was just what I needed for future growth in the company. He said, “Really, what do you have going on tomorrow?” That's when I realized that each day new opportunities started to do your best. I really grew up that day. I was given everything I needed to succeed in a business world. Everywhere I went I was never alone; Purcell Tire always had my back. Some of the best years of my life were with the Purcell Tire family. Thank you, Bob and Juanita. So proud to call you my friends.