Bob Thomas Writes

This was written at the celebration of the opening of my Brother’s new office building.

Dear Bill,
As a ‘Big Brother’ you are the leader of the pack.

So, today, I wanted to give you something to show you how much you mean to me. Unfortunately, good looks have to be inherited, so I can’t do anything about that! I don’t have a lot of money, so I can’t offer to pay for your new building . . . (though I’m sure you know that I would if I could!).

So, I thought I would tell you something that you may not realize.

While on the road to this ‘auspicious’ day, you have, at various times, mortgaged your house, borrowed money that you weren’t sure you could pay back, skipped a paycheck for a year or two. . . And, if the truth were known, probably borrowed money from Guys named “Vito” and “Big Tony”! I suspect you have even questioned your sanity on many occasions, I know everyone else certainly has! While making this trip through the last 20, plus years, you have given a number of people a chance to succeed beyond their wildest dreams. You created opportunities that are more than just ‘jobs’. They are ‘positions’ that carry a level of satisfaction and dignity unknown to most of the rest of this community. You gave your employees the ultimate ’employee benefit’. Trust. Trust in their ability to learn do the right thing, every time, all of the time. You have instilled in everyone who ever worked for you a sense of integrity, character, decency, honesty, loyalty, and devotion to you and your goals for this company. You did this by creating an atmosphere that told them that failure is simply the consequence of effort! . . . As is success.
You also showed them that this is as much “Their” company as it is yours! As you hired each new employee you have endured their “unconscious ignorance” until they found the right path to success. In doing so, you’ve helped a lot of people find the way to a good, comfortable life. A life filled with financial success,. . . but more importantly . . , a life filled with pride, integrity and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Your new building is not ‘just’ an office building. . . And it is certainly not a ‘monument’ to Bill Thomas! It is a monument to a life well spent. A life invested in the lives of others.
But, Most meaningful to me, is the fact that, it’s a place that I can drive by and say,. . .

“My Brother Did That!”
…of course, no one will know exactly what “doing that” required of you. . .except us.
Now, the words we never say out loud,…
“I love you.”
and I’m very proud of you.
Bob…