| "Success usually comes to those who are too | | | | returning from WWII, Mr. Silver took out a |
| busy to be looking for it." -Henry David | | | | bank loan for 3500.00, purchased a business |
| ThoreauIn July I had the privilege of | | | | license in Albany, NY and opened Hasbrouck |
| digitally recording a piece of history - a 3 | | | | Tavern in Woodburn, NY.It was a small |
| 1/2-hour conversation between two icons in | | | | building that he built by hand and was |
| the retail automotive sales industry, Mr. | | | | located out in the woods in Sullivan County, |
| James A. Ziegler and a true living legend, | | | | NY. He purchased an old Chevy for 35.00, |
| | | | painted "Hasbrouck Tavern - Dine and Dance" |
| Mr. Irving Silver.Irving Silver is now 89 | | | | across the back and parked it in front of the |
| years old, going on 35. He rescued over 100 | | | | tavern.Mr. Silver stated, "The Tavern was my |
| U.S. Soldiers during WWII. He sold 837 | | | | first experience with successful marketing. |
| Jaguars in less than 3 years. In 1949 he was | | | | We hung posters and handed out flyers all |
| the first salesperson in his industry to earn | | | | over the place that read, 'Hasbrouck Tavern - |
| almost $50,000 in 1 year. He was awarded the | | | | Come and see the Hillbillies Square Dance.' |
| Bronze Star Medal by General Douglas | | | | New York people from the Bronx and Brooklyn |
| MacArthur, personally.Jim and Irving | | | | had no idea what square dances were, but they |
| discussed many topics, including the | | | | were curious."On opening night, the Silvers |
| attitude, sales techniques, processes and | | | | could not accommodate all of the people that |
| work ethic that both men utilized to reach | | | | showed up.Later that year he and his bride of |
| the level of success that they have in their | | | | four years Ronnie, left upstate New York and |
| careers and in their lives. When the shoot | | | | traveled to Atlanta, Georgia. For a while he |
| ended I had no clue that 3 1/2 hours had | | | | was in the jewelry business before he decided |
| passed.If sales professionals will simply | | | | that he didn't want to travel anymore. Given |
| listen to what these two men have to say, | | | | his long time love for cars, Mr. Silver |
| this content has the potential to change | | | | wanted to sell them.Mr. Silver went to |
| lives forever. It has mine.It is my sincere | | | | several dealerships in and around Atlanta in |
| honor to introduce you to:Mr. Irving | | | | search of a sales position. He stated that he |
| SilverLiving in Sullivan County, NY, Irving | | | | had a difficult time landing a job until |
| Silver sold his first automobile in 1934 at | | | | Lander Motors decided to "give him a shot." |
| the age of 16. Earlier he had purchased a | | | | He began to speak about his early experiences |
| Model T pick-up truck for 8.00. He restored | | | | at Lander when he was asked, "Why was it so |
| the old truck and drove it for a while, then | | | | hard to land a job at a dealership?" Mr. |
| sold it for 16.00. Mr. Silver stated, "That's | | | | Silver replied with a chuckle, "I was the |
| when I knew it. I told myself that when I | | | | first Jewish car salesman ever in the history |
| grew up I was going to sell cars."On December | | | | of Atlanta."1946 - In his first 22 months as |
| 7th, 1941, a young Irving Silver heard over | | | | a salesman at Lander Motors in Atlanta, |
| the radio that the Japanese had attacked | | | | Irving Silver delivered 235 new cars, 15 |
| Pearl Harbor. On April 6th, 1942 he arrived | | | | trucks and 70 used vehicles. (Good thing they |
| at Fort Dix, New Jersey and enlisted in the | | | | decided to "give him a shot").In 1949, he |
| United States Army. He then proceeded to Fort | | | | became the first auto salesman in Atlanta to |
| Bragg, NC for Basic Training and received the | | | | make over 50,000 in one year.Over the next |
| rank of Corporal due to his knowledge of | | | | few years he became the number one salesman |
| diesel engines. He trained exclusively on | | | | in the country for Dodge and Plymouth.In the |
| landing craft and during combat operations he | | | | 1960's he was the number one Nash Rambler |
| operated an LCM, (landing craft medium).Mr. | | | | salesman in the country and became a member |
| Silver was involved in military operations in | | | | of the Chevrolet "Legion of Leaders."In the |
| New Guinea, Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Iwo Gima | | | | late 1980's he became the number one Jaguar |
| and the Philippine Islands.In October of 1944 | | | | salesman in the WORLD, delivering over 837 |
| he took part in the largest Naval battle that | | | | Jaguars in less than 3 years. A record that |
| the world has ever seen, The Battle of Leyte | | | | has never been broken.Due to an injury Mr. |
| Gulf.One day as the Allied Navy and the | | | | Silver "retired" from Troncalli in 1989. At |
| Imperial Japanese Navy were engaged in heavy | | | | 78 years of age, he was back in the saddle in |
| naval combat, Mr. Silver and his crew members | | | | 1995 returning to work at Troncalli.Mr. |
| observed two disabled U.S. PT Boats.He and | | | | Silver had a top gross of 21,000.00 in a |
| his crew navigated their Landing Craft | | | | single day. (Commission, not sales).Mr. |
| Medium, (joined by another LCM), out to the | | | | Silver is the founder of the first Automotive |
| disabled vessels and the battle, ran cables | | | | Sales Institute which was accredited by the |
| underneath the two vessels and successfully | | | | State of Georgia, he led the board for over |
| towed both vessels out of harms way.Mr. | | | | 47 years.He was also director of the Antique |
| Silver landed on the Philippine Islands ten | | | | Automobile Club of America - Southeastern |
| days before General MacArthur did. His | | | | Region.Irving never looked back. Over the |
| mission was to assist the Filipino Guerillas | | | | years he would sell cars to the sons, |
| in establishing listening posts in Mindanao | | | | daughters and grandchildren of his customers |
| in preparation for the impending troop | | | | dating back to 1949. He personally sold over |
| landings. Mindanao was fully occupied by the | | | | 100 million worth of automobiles before he |
| Japanese.On December 30th, while preparing | | | | stopped keeping track.Charlie Troncalli, head |
| for a planned landing at Mindoro on the | | | | of Troncalli Jaguar, Lincoln-Mercury and Saab |
| Western end of the Philippine Islands, Mr. | | | | wrote: "...he has more than earned the title |
| Silver and his crew observed a 200' long "PT | | | | of 'legend.'" A Jaguar trade publication |
| Tender", (munitions supply ship for PT | | | | referred to him as "Sterling" Silver.AND...To |
| Boats), that had been struck by a Japanese | | | | top it all off, in 1965 Mr. Silver had an |
| Kamikaze aircraft. The ship was on fire and | | | | idea for an invention. The turbine operated |
| was adrift approximately 300 yards off-shore. | | | | wet/dry shaver. He holds the patent on it. |
| The craft was also fully stocked with | | | | Due to the fact that his shaver is turbine |
| torpedoes and other highly explosive | | | | operated, it sucks the cut whiskers into a |
| munitions. Mr. Silver and his crew navigated | | | | canister which means they won't float around |
| their LCM, (joined by another LCM), out to | | | | in outer space. Today, every time an |
| the burning ship. He and his crew boarded the | | | | astronaut inside the Space Station shaves, he |
| highly volatile vessel and rescued over 100 | | | | or she utilizes Irving's shaver.In closing - |
| injured Sailors.In early 1945 General Douglas | | | | If you are ever fortunate enough to meet a |
| MacArthur personally awarded Irving Silver | | | | true American Hero, PLEASE, P-L-E-A-S-E tell |
| with The Bronze Star Medal for "Heroic | | | | their story. Our country needs it now more |
| achievement in connection with military | | | | than ever.View photos, letters, video clips |
| operations against the enemy." General | | | | and more at: Hurst is the IT/Interet |
| MacArthur also gave Mr. Silver a Battlefield | | | | Marketing Director for The Ziegler |
| Commission from the rank of Corporal to the | | | | Corporations located in Atlanta, GeorgiaYou |
| rank of Captain.Also in early 1945 after | | | | may contact J.C. |