#1
|
||||
|
||||
The NEW "old Estes Industries"
I have hesitated to post this until now, mostly because it seemed too good to be true at the time. In mid-March, I received an email from Vern Estes about a visit he and Gleda had just made to the Estes plant. There was much excitement in his email. A later call to Gleda described their (much delayed) welcome back plant tour and reception. After twenty years or so, the walls were down and they were received by a loving "family." A few weeks later, Vern (Gleda was recovering from knee surgery), Ed Brown and other former employees were invited to a company barbeque, like the preceding years had never happened.
I did not post any of this because I did not know then if Vern and Gleda wanted me to share their experience and I am a natural skeptic. I decided to wait until NARAM to see if it was a fluke and, if not, to get permission from Vern and Gleda. I was totally surprised that Estes was not only a presence at NARAM, but had a wide support of many employees that had signed up for shifts at the Estes tent during the week. I have tried to speak with every Estes employee present this week and every one made me and my family feel welcome to their “backyard." They seem genuinely excited about the future of Estes and the positive changes over the past few months. Vern and Gleda mean very much to me and seeing them so happy to be welcomed back to the company they built has made this one of the best visits with them, ever. The photo below of Vern, Gleda, their oldest daughter Betty, with Janet and Scott from Estes says volumes. They have their rightful place now and I have heard from many at Estes that they will be treated just as all of us have always thought they should have been treated all along. I will be one of the first to express my pleasure with the new "old Estes Industries."
__________________
Carl McLawhorn NAR#4717 L2 semroc.com |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Thank you, again, for sharing. All I can say is "wonderful".
__________________
Bernard Cawley NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member SAM 0061 AMA 42160 KG7AIE |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks Carl, that is really cool news.
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
There's a huge sign in the Estes lobby that says "Welcome Back Vern and Gleda".
__________________
Bill Spadafora http://www.billsplumbing.com billspad@comcast.net bill@billsplumbing.com |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
This is all fantastic news Carl, Im certainly glad you posted it . There wonderful people who have given thousands a window in life they might not have had with Estes back in the 60's/70's
__________________
Low Prices, Fast Delivery. The Webs #1 Rocket Shop YORF the rocketry forum where vendors can actually post in the vendors section. TRF Banned and proud Uncle Mikes Rocket Shack Any Questions/Comments Click To Email Us |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
That is fantastic!
Now I am really sorry I didn't go.
__________________
"I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run" http://sandmandecals.com/ |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
... Janet and Scott from QUEST Carl!
__________________
Scott NAR #32070 |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
This really brings tears to my eyes, Carl. I wish I could've been there to see it, but the picture from Bob Sanford of <GASP!> Bill Stine in the Estes booth proved to me and underscored the fact that, yes, things have started to change and the sale to Hobbico was indeed probably the best thing that could've happened!
__________________
Roy nar12605 |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for sharing the news, Carl.
After reading your first post I had that feeling (from the early 1970s) when the new Estes catalog came in the mail.
__________________
Hans "Chris" Michielssen Old/New NAR # 19086 SR www.oddlrockets.com www.modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com http://www.nar.org/educational-reso...ing-techniques/ Your results may vary "Nose cones roll, be careful with that." Every spaceman needs a ray gun. Look out - I'm the Meister Shyster! |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
I'm sincerely glad to hear about all of this. It would've been great to actually see Vern and Gleda walking back into the company they started so many years ago. Wish I was there.
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|