Bob Fletcher was a mentor to me. I was staying in Clearwater in 1975 while we were trying to find a location for our dealership in Valdosta, GA. Jerry Ludlam (our district manager) arranged for me to hang around Bob’s store so he could show me the ropes. Of course I spent most days in the shop. Bob sold me his drill press for $25. I remember his stories about his drag racing days and especially the accident stories. Francis (Cannonball) Hockett was the dealer in Tampa in those days. One day when I was at Fletcher’s, Cannonball came over for a visit. The three of us were talking and Cannonball was complaining about how bad business was. Bob said, “yeah, but what else would you rather be doing?”. That was the way Bob felt. Good times or bad times, he was doing just what he wanted to do in life and he loved it. I was impressed and I wanted to be just like him. Peggy and her husband, Gayle, came up to Valdosta many times to visit us once we got the shop opened. I wish her and her sisters the very best, but hearing that the dealership is closing is like losing an old friend...again.