In 1978 I sold the Exxon service station to enter real estate.  I obtained my real estate license in 1977 even though a local college professor told me I would never pass the examination with a high school education.  On a side note this same professor had to take the exam two times, I passed on the first.

 

At this point I managed over 120 diifferent houses and condos.  Renters were always losing keys, breaking keys off in locks, damaging locks and so forth.  This is where I began to hone in my locksmithing skills.  Homeowners often asked for deadbolts to be installed on their homes and owner's closets.  Local real estate competitiors knew what I was doing and often asked me to assist them with their locks and keys.  I sold the real estate company in 1983.

 

Now what to do, what to do.  Real estate was really not me.  Being cramped up in an office all day and doing lock work when I had a break was just not the way I wanted to go.  I was approached by several real estate agents to manage their properties but it just didn't appeal to me. I often had interviews for positions for these management jobs but I couldn't make the appointments because I had lock work to do.  So I decided to give it a try and as they say the rest is history.

 

My first service vehicle was a Subaru station wagon.  I had everything neatly positioned in the back along with a 12 volt key machine.  The next was a Chevy S10 pickup.  Climbing in and out of that thing was rough so I moved up to a Chevy van.  I thought I had moved into the Biltmore House with this van.  How was I going to fill this van up.  Boy that was a joke because soon after I was out of room even in this van.

 

My son joined the business after his graduation in 1992.  At this point we were operating two vans until I briefly quit in 2004.  Boredom got me back in the business in 2008.

 

In 2009 I was asked to join the NC Locksmith Licensing Board. Two years later I was elected Chairman.  I held this position for two years.  In 2013 I was asked again to serve on the Board and I accepted.  Since

being on the Bord I have served as Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer.  I also serve as the Chairman of the Continuing Education/Examination Committee.