11/09/2022
Hey, It's John White. The big guy from the sale.
I saw him when I was 7 years old, then 45 Mondays a year, toss in a few weekend sales and I was officially a pre-internet follower. Not by choice. He was a local auctioneer, and my grandparents followed him everywhere - then at 13 I approached Mr. Pennay and asked for job.
13 year old me was hired. I lifted furniture, then trinkets, then box lots - sometimes 'till 2 in the morning - every Monday (and the occasional weekend pick up or sale) until I left for college.
He once asked me on a weekend pick up, (another G&J he'd quip), if I'd shovel s**t. For 8 hours a day for 8 days in summer 1995 I shoveled cubic ton's of cow dung with my cousin Mike. He'd inspect the barn at the end of each day, pay us, say good work and send us home. Day 5 he pointed at a wall and asked "what happened here". After days of shoveling s**t, Mike or I, just made a s**t ball and threw it. Then it was just amas**teggeden. We apologized and told him what happened - he laughed - paid us double in a barn that he promptly tore down as soon as we finished.
Then this man Co-signed for my student loans. Life changing.
I lived 8 years in Philadelphia. School, life, a family hick-up and I found myself back in the house I was raised in. Frustrated and restarting I stopped into the auction and asked Mr. Pennay if he needed a hand. Danny was just about to leave for college and I could start next sale.
From 2007-2019 Jerry or I lifted damn near every piece of furniture in that auction house. At least once if not thrice.
I brought up the s**t shoveling/tossing to illustrate my view of Gerald Pennay Sr. From my vantage Boss Man respected dedication plus hard work and rewarded it often. He didn't care if you couldn't do a job, he cared that you showed up and put your all into it and did it to the best of your ability. Regardless of the task.
That feeling, that vibe, that knowledge helped build this man.
Hadn't seen much of my favorite old man the past few years - thanks Covid. But bumped into him last winter at TS in Montrose. We spent 20mins catching up, me showing pictures of Edi, calling him "boss man". We shared smiles and laughs. Never did I think that would be our last encounter.
I didn't lift furniture after my youth because I had too. I showed up and lifted because I loved him.
A beautiful man and an icon in my life. A testament to hard work and dedication. Thank you for everything. Rest easy Boss Man. I miss your cadence already.
Ruth, Jr., Jacs, Russ, Jeff, Mace, Lace, Mike, Bobby and Ray, and countless others over the decades... Know you are loved.
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