90 Years. 90 Stories.

Alice Schilly Rhodes

Alice is the Purcell's close friend for 10 years.

My story with Purcell Tire really doesn't have anything to do with tires, but instead with the two people most responsible for Purcell Tire being what it is today, my dear friends, Bob and Juanita Purcell. Please note that the Purcell's approved me disclosing how we met. By education and training, I am a physical therapist, and I received a referral from Bob's local physician for outpatient physical therapy at Potosi Sports and Physical Therapy. The referral came with a gentle warning that, "This guy is crazy busy and not a big fan of therapy or exercise." Hmm, ok, this sounds interesting. If memory serves me correctly, we had to reschedule his initial evaluation a time or two before he could carve out time to come the two or three Potosi blocks (definitely not true city blocks) distance from Purcell's Corporate Office to the therapy center. From the beginning, Bob & I hit it off. We are both "tell it like it is, let's get down to business, folks." I explained to him that as his PT, I would assess his physical challenges, and with prescribed exercises and activities, help him help himself know what to do to achieve his recovery goals. He warned me that he couldn't come to the clinic very often, so I warned him that this meant he definitely needed to do what I told him to do @ home & the office, or he wouldn't get better. Bob had recently had a major surgery, with an extended hospital stay, some inpatient rehab services, still using a walker. He told me his goals were to walk independently unlimited distances without a device, drive and get back to running his tire business with his wife Juanita, who he described as a "little fireball." He said he also needed to be able to travel by air independently thru airports as his business dealings were all over the country, some even international. Little did I know how large Purcell Tire really is, nor what "a little fireball" Juanita truly is. I did however receive immediate bonus points when I told Bob that my husband, Sam, was a commercial pilot with American Airlines. Thanks Sam. Anyone who knows Bob, knows he loves all things aviation. My first introduction with Juanita was on the phone when she called the clinic, asked me, and wanted to know why Bob's recovery was taking longer than she thought it should. Well, Mrs. Purcell, "No, call me Juanita. Mrs. Purcell was Bob's mom." Well, Juanita, he keeps cancelling his therapy appointments and I'm not sure how compliant he is with his home exercises/activities. "Well, that's about to change," she said. "I'll make sure he makes his appointments and does his homework." "Send his schedule and a copy of his exercises to my personal secretary, Janell." I returned with a "Yes, Ma'am." Bob's attendance amazingly improved, as did his functional progress, and Bob & I developed a great patient/therapist comradery finding out that we both had rural backgrounds and were first generation college graduates in our families. He shared more about the Purcell story and as a transplant to the Potosi/Washington County area, I was impressed to say the least. After his discharge, Bob insisted that I bring my husband, whom he called "the pilot" and our young son, Samuel, to take a tour of the Potosi production and retread plant. And that's when I met Juanita in person, all 5 feet tall (so she says) of her. At the time, Bob's walking distance was still limited so Juanita in her white slacks said, "Follow me," and with a big hand wave proceeded to give myself and my family the grand tour of the Potosi plant explaining the entire impressive and amazing clean production and retread process of Purcell Tire, while acknowledging all the employees by name along the way. And so began a wonderfully blessed friendship with Bob & Juanita Purcell. They put on no pretenses. They are who they are, which is faithful, extremely hard working, down to earth Missouri folks dedicated to their family, employees, tire business & one another.