PC Post Publisher:
‘We are so glad we did this’
By PHIL COBB
I simply have to start out this week’s column by saying thank you to the many readers who reached out to me via email, phone calls, Facebook messages, text messages, and just stopping me on the street, after receiving The Page County Post in the mail, and expressing their appreciation for providing them with their very own paper.
We love hearing from readers, and, trust me, it never gets old hearing that what you are doing is appreciated.
Just so you know, I love doing this.
Maybe that sounds weird, but this is what I grew up in and around, and despite a few brief attempts to go in other directions, and explore other avenues, this is what I’ve always done.
My earliest memory is of being held up so that I could reach the big red button to start the printing press at The Richmond News in Richmond, Mo., when I was maybe three or four years old.
My mom, Lana Cobb, who has been helping me out a bit to get started in this endeavor by making some phone calls to area businesses, started working at The Richmond News when she was 16 years old.
She worked there for several years and that’s where she met my dad, who, at the time was teaching in Plattsburg, Mo., and sponsoring the student publication at that high school. He would take his pages to The News to have them printed.
Dad later became the news editor in Richmond, and that’s where I lived the first seven years of my childhood.
In 1975, my dad, who had been born with Spina Bifada, a malformity that affects the lower spine, developed bone cancer, and was forced to have his entire left leg and hip removed.
Long story, short, that was a major turning point in my family’s lives.
But not in the way you might think.
My dad didn’t become “disabled,” he didn’t lay down and die … he didn’t quit. He recovered slowly and eventually was fitted with an artificial leg and learned to walk with the aid of what I called, “forearm crutches.” I don’t know what they are really called, but you’ve probably seen them.
He actually learned to get around very well, and in 1976, just one year after major surgery, he landed a job in King City, Mo., as the
news editor of the Tri-County News.
Not only did my dad continue on with his career, but he also resumed his pursuit of recreation.
He designed an apparatus to fit on his golf cart so that he could continue to play that sport, and he played it well.
His drives weren’t very long, but they were right down the middle every time, and he was a rediculously good putter.
I really didn’t intend to tell the story of my parents when I sat down at the computer today, but sometimes that’s what happens when my fingers touch the keyboard.
I simply wanted to tell you why I love this job, this business so much.
Plus, I genuinely enjoy the relationships you form through the course of “selling” advertising, building ads, laying out pages — etc.
I put selling inside quotations, because I don’t really consider what I do selling.
You’re not going to see many sales tactics with me, outside of maybe a little tenacity once in a while.
I have always said — and this is what I have told the other sales reps I have trained along the way — I don’t care how much I can sell you or get out of you right now today. What I want to do is sell you ads for the next 10 years.
It truly is a relationship, and that was a good segue into the next thing I’d like to talk about.
************
I don’t yet know a lot of people in Page County, but I have been selling advertising in Clarinda for close to 25 years through my job with what used to be the Maryville Daily Forum and the Penny Press. Now it’s simply the Maryville Forum and The Post.
Through those years I was fortunate to build some relationships, some that last still today.
One of the best customers I’ve ever had through the past quarter century is Shore Motor Co.
I started with Larry and Kim Shore in 2000.
I met Joe Akers somewhere along the way and dealt with him for advertising for a number of years. I think those years coincided with Angie Meier, who sold me a Silverado along the way.
Then came Josh Wyman, who I’ve seen develop from a young salesman into the owner of the dealership and a leader in the community.
Most recently, I’ve enjoyed getting to know Dakin Wilcoxson, who has turned into an important member of the Shore team and a pretty good salesman, too.
Yep, he sold me the Silverado I’m driving today.
Some other names I remember along the way are Phil Tornholm of TriTractor; Kevin Clement of — at the time — Barker Implement; Brian Whipp of Whipp Sales; Paul, Ed, and Jeremy Swanson of Cardinal Auto.
Then there’s Norm Schilb of S&S Appliance, Larry and Shira Bridie of Weil’s Clothing, Jim Beadle at Fareway Grocery, George Crawford of Crawford and Company Real Estate and Auctions.
There are so many more, and I know I’m leaving some out. These are the ones I remember from way back.
Don’t feel bad if I didn’t
mention you. Your time is most likely coming.
************ And that leads to this.
I didn’t get it done last week, but I would like to make this a regular segment of this column — a shout-out to our new advertisers.
Last week was our first week ever, so everybody was new and here they are,
See PHIL, Page 7
2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Trail Boss 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Welcome to our new advertisers for Week 2:
Page County Assessor, Page County Fair Board, Doris McKinnon, El Sarape, Ding’s Honk ‘n Holler, V&L’s Countryside Outlet, D&D Treasures, Lied Public Library, and Premier Healthcare of Shenandoah.
Everyone have a great week, and we’ll look forward to talking to you next time.
