The year was 1973. Richard Nixon was President. Gasoline was 40¢ per gallon. Stamps were 9¢ each. Bell Bottoms were the fad, and the #1 song in the U.S. was “Me & Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul. Along with that hit song, Southern Wire® made its own chart topping hit by hiring Robert “Gary” Jones. Jones was the fourth employee hired by Southern Wire®. He began working at the first Southern Wire® warehouse located in Memphis, Tn. Throughout the years, Jones has worn many hats and has been a valued participant in the positive growth of the company. He has worked in all areas of the shop from pulling hardware to fabricating wire rope slings to becoming a master of wire rope. He has the uncanny ability to give the diameter, construction, and lay of a reel of cable with just a quick glance. In some way or another, Gary has trained each and every co-worker that has walked through Southern Wire’s® door over the past 40 years.
“Gary showed me ‘the ropes’ my first weeks with the company some 16 years ago”, stated Chris Allen, Salesperson for Southern Wire®. Chris continued, “As I watched, listened to, and followed Gary, I learned very quickly he took great pride in what he did and never took any short cuts. He has always enjoyed his job and continues to push others to take the extra steps above and beyond to ensure all work is top quality. Gary told me something my first week that I have never forgotten. He said, ‘If you do something for this company, do it correctly, and do it with pride. Take ownership of it because you are the face of Southern Wire®, and that’s something to be proud of.’”
When asked what he gained from his experiences at Southern Wire® over the past 40 years, Gary commented, “It’s all about taking pride in your job and the friendships you forge. It’s more than just a job; it’s the family atmosphere with friendships that have been cultivated over the years. It goes beyond being a paycheck to me; it’s my way of life and my career.” He added, “Retirement is a something I cannot even think about right now. I don’t want to leave; I enjoy every day here with my Southern Wire® family. I have truly been blessed to be part of such a great team.”
The entire Southern Wire® family would like to take this opportunity to thank Gary Jones for all he has done for this company over the past 40 years.
For more than 40 years, Southern Wire®, a division of Houston Wire and Cable Company, has earned a reputation for understanding the unique buying requirements of their customers and delivering exceptional customer service and support.
With quality and safety as our guide, it is the mission of Southern Wire® to deliver superior foreign and domestic wire rope, chain, and other related rigging products and fabricated assemblies with exceptional service. By purchasing in large volumes from qualified vendors, stocking at strategically located nationwide distribution centers, and utilizing proprietary state of the art technologies, we are able to provide same day shipping of stock items at outstanding value. The Southern Wire® family strives to build strong relationships with our customers, employees, vendors, and community by exceeding expectations and providing long term competitive advantages.
Houston Wire & Cable Company is one of the largest providers of wire and cable in the U.S. end user market. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HWC has sales and distribution facilities strategically located throughout the nation.