Friday, February 20, 1998

Longevity at job earns worker new car

By Doug Williamson / Abilene Reporter-News

Bobbie Agnew is one of a kind these days.

You don't see too many folks who've worked for the same company for 30 years.

On a cold, snowy day -- Feb. 19, 1968 -- she went to work for Western Marketing Inc.

"It was a whole new world for me," she said recently. "My husband had died, and I moved back to Abilene from California. I had gone back to school to hone some of my skills."

She got a lot of support in the move from her two daughters, Alice Jones, now a computer science teacher and business manager at Rule High School, and Janet Lawler, now the victim and witness coordinator for the Boise, Idaho, Police Department. Bobbie applied for a job with Western Marketing Inc. and interviewed with Bill Wright, son of Dub Wright, the founder of Western Marketing. She had worked for KWKC Radio in the 1950s, and Dub Wright was one of the shareholders of the station.

There were five people in the accounting office and one in the warehouse back then. Today, WMI employs 300 and has sales in excess of $100 million, said co-owner John Thacker.

She worked as controller for several years, beginning in 1980.

"She is a financial guru," Thacker said.

In 1988, "I decided I didn't want all that stress. I retired, for less than two months."

Agnew is the smiling face and joyful voice you hear when you enter the company's office on the access road of Interstate 20, near Tye.

"I have never had a day that was the same as another there."

One of the constant changing factors is the price of fuel. When she began work, it was about 10 cents a gallon for diesel.

When describing Agnew, Thacker uses terms like "having pride in the quality of her work," "professional, but deceptively casual" and "disciplined and demanding, but positive."

"People who have worked for Bobbie are stronger employees because of her training and requirements," he said.

Thacker and his partner, Richard Hasten, wanted to surprise their prize employee with a gift.

"I usually go to the bank in the morning. Instead, John and Richard wanted me to go on an errand with them," Agnew recalled.

They began the trek into central Abilene.

"You are making me nervous," she told her bosses.

When they turned into the Sisneros dealership's lot on North First Street, there were four cars in four colors parked out front.

"They told me to pick the one I wanted. I was floored. I knew something was up, but I had no clue that it dealt with me, and I surely never thought of anything in the world like this," she said.

Agnew chose the blue Buick Century.

"It's not mamby pamby blue. It's an exciting blue," she said.

What about a 40th anniversary for the 69-year-old?

"I may just still be here," she said.