Framing a Dream: A Boy's Vision Becomes a Man's Reality

By Leon Slocomb and Frank McIntosh

This is the story of a determined boys journey through life, living his dream and overcoming tremendous adversity along the way. By the age of eight, Leon Slocomb decided he wanted to own a business that would employ many people and manufacture a product that would be a benefit to society. Along the way he faces family issues, illness, poverty, death of a spouse, and starting and building a business. He never loses the belief that he can accomplish his dream. Leon puts his faith in God whom he believes leads him to his joy and comforts him in his sadness. Leons story is an inspiration for anyone who wants to own a business.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493144020

Leon Slocomb

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Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Frank McIntosh

Cover Design: Caitlin McIntosh

Interior Design: Caitlin McIntosh

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 12/04/2013

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CONTENTS

Preface

One The Final Negotiation

Two Making the Man

Three Seeing Through the Blind

Four And Upon These Rocks

Five The Times They Are A-Changin’

Six All Roads Lead to Rome

Seven Italy

Eight The City and the Artist

Nine The Price of Trust

Ten Pellets, Regrind, and Powder

Eleven Leading Up to the Sale

Twelve The End Is Near

Afterthoughts

Sayings of Leon

Acknowledgments

About the Author

PREFACE

It was a bright, warm summer day as Carolyn and I were driving out to Greenville to visit and have dinner with our friends, the Slocombs. The most amazing thing happened shortly after our arrival.

Leon was tending to the garden, a usual summer pastime, and he invited us to look at the plenty he was preparing to harvest. The garden was full of all sorts of vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini, radishes, and peppers. Off to the side was the tractor that he used to assist in various tasks on the property. Standing between the tractor and the garden was a structure, and that’s where my attention was drawn.

It was a one-story building that was fairly large. It wasn’t a barn or a stable. Perhaps it could be a guest house, but I wondered why he would need that. It didn’t seem to follow the style of his home. Frankly, I was more curious about this structure than the tractor or the garden. However, I did hope that some of those tomatoes were going to make it to the supper table!

I asked Leon what the building was used for. He seemed hesitant to answer, which made me uncomfortable that I had asked. After all, it was his house. I doubted that he was growing anything illegal in there, but if he was, there would be plenty of it. Might be an interesting way to supplement your retirement income, I mused to myself.

He mulled my request over for a few seconds and responded, I don’t usually show anyone this, but I think you and Carolyn might find it interesting. Let’s go. He unlocked the door, went inside, and switched on the lights as we followed behind. What did I see, but an airplane, big as day, sitting on the concrete floor. Whatever I was expecting to see, it sure wasn’t an airplane!

Leon began to tell us the story. He was a licensed pilot and had always wanted to build his own craft. He and a friend began working on this project several years before and were making great progress. That was until David, his friend, became ill, and the project had to be put on hold as he recovered. Production is scheduled to begin again soon. Leon’s goal is to finish and fly this aircraft.

Now, I have known Leon for about seven years, but this love affair with flying was new to me. What I did know about him was that he was a very determined man, particularly if he sets his sights on something he values. It was clear to me that early August evening that he fully intended to get this plane up in the air with him at the throttle.

After the fascinating affair with the airplane, we settled down to a wonderful dinner. As I had hoped, there was a generous serving of homegrown garden tomatoes—heavenly! After dinner came my second big surprise of the day.

Leon and I were chatting between ourselves as the ladies were occupied elsewhere. Leon said to me, You’ll never guess what I am going to do! As he was right, I suggested that he tell me.

He said, I am going to write a book.

Like the airplane, I had no inkling that he would say this. Having had my first book recently published, I knew how challenging this task could be. So I said, Wow, Leon, that’s a lot to take on.

He replied, Oh, I know that. That’s why I want you to write it!

I had no idea how to respond to this. I thought about saying that the dinner wasn’t that good, but that seemed to be a joke that could be taken the wrong way. So I wound up saying that we should get together during the week to discuss this in more detail.

The long and short of it was this: we met, and I am helping Leon write this book. He is not an easy guy to say no to. As a matter of fact, Leon is such a nice man; your motivation is always to say yes to him.

As I write this, he is eighty-one years old. He has been a very successful businessman and a dedicated family man. He has deep faith in the Almighty. He faces adversity with absolute belief that he will overcome whatever obstacle is in his way. He loves people and is a very considerate, generous, and humble individual. I believe he will fly that airplane one of these days; I know it will be a sight to see.

As you read the story of this extraordinary man, you will understand why the airplane venture is a metaphor for his life. He takes the road less traveled. Before leaving this introduction of Leon Slocomb, let me dial back the clock a few years to give you further insight into what resulted from his lifetime of beating the odds.

It is October 25, 2005, and Junior Achievement of Delaware is celebrating the latest inductees into the Delaware Business Leaders Hall of Fame. We have just witnessed the film depicting the accomplishments of Leon Slocomb, one of the two honorees this evening. Leon steps to the microphone before a packed audience to receive the crystal eagle, emblematic of his new status as a laureate, and to give his acceptance address. I began to reflect on what I felt made Leon such a special man—one of my all-time favorites.

Leon was not somebody I knew until his nomination to the Hall of Fame came across my desk. He was nominated by Murray Bernstein, whom I did know and respect for his business acumen and support of the Junior Achievement (JA) organization. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Murray would be selected for entry into the Hall of Fame in 2006. I felt confident that Leon’s was a solid nomination from a trusted source.

Once the nomination process closes for the year, the nominees are vetted by the JA staff and sent to the dean of the school of business at the University of Delaware for evaluation and selection. The dean chairs the final selection committee made up of him and selected members of his faculty. The 2005 group of nominees was most prestigious, with at least seven viable candidates. I was very interested in the outcome of the selection process. It certainly was going to be a tough decision as the Hall of Fame is limited to a maximum of two inductees per year.

According to the dean, it was indeed a very difficult decision, but the committee was able to settle on two individuals: Leonard Quill, Chief Executive Officer CEO of the Wilmington Trust Company, and Leon Slocomb, CEO of Slocomb Industries and Acro Extrusion Corporation, a related sister company. I knew Leonard to be a very classy individual and one who was widely revered for his leadership of Delaware’s biggest and most powerful bank. Everything I heard about Leon indicated he demonstrated similar characteristics in the manufacturing sector. I felt comfortable that this was going to be a very good year for the Hall of Fame.

My mind switches back to Leon and the Hall of Fame induction. The eagle has been presented, and the appropriate photos have been taken. He is now at the podium. Leon has said that he is not an orator, but his achievements indicate that he is a doer. So I am anxious to hear what he will say.

After thanking all the people who have made the night possible (particularly his bride of forty-four years, Margaret), he reaches the crux of his message.

I would now like to share with you two words that have helped and guided me during my lifetime.

The first one is heart.

The dictionary says the heart is a hollow, muscular organ, which, by contracting rhythmically, maintains the circulation of blood. In a tree, it is the core. It is the innermost and essential part of any body or system. It is something resembling a heart, a shape, a decorative figure—a trinket. The heart is regarded as the seat of spiritual or conscious life-soul, spirit.

It is the emotional, as distinguished from the intellectual, nature—such as head and heart often disagree. The heart also has a benevolent emotion as in sympathy, love, and courage. It also alludes to memory. Remember, as children, there were some things we had to learn by heart?

We often hear after one’s own heart. Heart gives us intent, desire, moral sensibility, honesty, temperament, and mood such as a heavy heart. When one is a leader we often hear the stout hearts that followed.

In our innermost character, we say from the bottom of my heart; from one’s innermost soul, from my heart; desire earnestly, to have the heart; and to be sufficiently hard-hearted, with all one’s heart.

Today’s business climate demands a high level of intelligence from a CEO. This trend will only escalate because of the vast amounts of new technology that must be learned as well as administered. The time, effort, and energy placed on having head intelligence will give precious little minutes for the thinking time and patience needed for the heart.

The successful person, however, will not only find, but will take the time to always have heart in their business decisions—because this feeling comes from within.

One may possess great aptitude and intelligence, but without heart, it will be very difficult to attain the highest position possible in any business, regardless of size or product.

Remember also to see the beauty and richness in the world; you must look with your heart as well as with your eyes.

When Leon talks about heart, he is absolutely sincere. His actions speak volumes, and they never vary. As Leon was talking about the heart, I remembered a story I learned about him that illustrates exactly how clear he is on