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