Episode #52
For The Long Haul: 50+ Years of Business, Family, & Leadership with Bob Wollenman
Bob Wollenman has been doing business in St. Joseph since 1967, and Deluxe Truck Stop has served the trucking and agriculture industries since 1979. Today it's much more than a fuel stop. It offers truck washing, a tire shop, and food-grade, kosher-certified tank washing that handles well over 100 trucks a day. In this season two episode, Bob talks with Jodie about more than trucks. He describes leaving his father's business and later mending that relationship while caring for his dad. He explains how a 30-year-old's "young and dumb" confidence in 1979 led to a lease, a locked-in purchase price, and the property Deluxe sits on today. He also shares how 55 years of marriage to Connie gave him the courage to lead. Bob reflects on how St. Joseph has changed, from the stockyards and local leadership to the value of getting to know candidates as people. He also talks about his work nationally against human trafficking and distracted driving, and why he keeps giving back through United Way, the St. Joseph Chamber, and Progressive Community Services. Growing up in his father's business and graduating with Missouri Western's Class of '72 55 years with Connie, and how she gave a "too timid" young man the confidence to lead Walking away from the family business and finding healing with his dad The "young and dumb" 1979 deal that became Deluxe Truck Stop Adapting to change as agriculture and the Stockyards evolved James, the employee who has shown up since 1980 From national Corvette club president to national truck stop leadership How truck stops are fighting human trafficking and protecting highway workers Why giving back matters, and what St. Joseph has lost in local leadership Getting to know candidates as people, not parties How a neighborly request from Nestlé Purina launched a kosher-certified tank wash Bringing son Nick into the business and doing it differently the second time around And, of course, the King Hill flag "weather forecast" for washing trucks The 39/94 Podcast - New episodes every week! Watch this episode on YouTube: @the3994podcast Learn more about supporting The 39/94 Podcast: Patreon Our sponsors: North Central Missouri College www.ncmissouri.edu Scooter's Coffee Savannah & St. Joseph (Facebook: ScootersCoffeeSavannah) Wollenman Family's Deluxe Truck Stop https://www.deluxetruckstop.com/ Gina's Cafe & Catering https://www.ginascafeandcatering.com/ E.L. Crawford Construction http://www.elcrawford.com/ Greater Than Financial https://www.greaterthanfinancial.com/
