On December 1, the company’s long-time warehouse truck service manager, Bob Powell, will retire. Powell, who joined the truck shop as a painter in 1986, worked in every position within the truck shop on his way to becoming manager in 1995.
As the boss, Powell was not afraid to roll up his sleeves and tackle projects himself.
“I liked to do some of the work now and then to show I’m willing to do anything I would ask my crew to do,” Powell said. “That includes lots of hands-on work and training for my employees.”
Powell’s leadership, experience and can-do mantra resulted in an excellent record of maintenance and safety under his watch.
“Bob has been an exceptional manager, and you could tell his crew followed his lead on how they went about their work,” said James Greer, senior vice president of supply and transportation.
Powell could often be found sitting in his office at the back of the shop, where he frequently fielded calls from MFA Oil employees who were experiencing problems with their company trucks. As a sought-after mechanical guru, both inside and outside the company, Powell could often determine whether the equipment needed to be brought in for repairs or if the issue was solvable by phone.
“Our trucks, especially the newer ones, can be quite complex,” Greer said. “Bob’s ability to help others understand what they may have been seeing or experiencing has always impressed me. The way he could diagnose problems and come up with solutions over the phone was remarkable.”
Zach Studer, warehousing and quality control director, has served as Powell’s supervisor for the last two years. He said Powell’s 37 years of dedication to MFA Oil have delivered immense value to the co-op.
“Bob has been an extremely valuable asset, we couldn’t have gotten to where we are now without him,” Studer said. “The products Bob and his team deliver are second to none. He is highly respected by all who know him, even competitors who ask his advice and opinion.”
Studer appreciated Powell’s vision and his ability to retain high-quality employees.
“Many of Bob’s team members have been with us for over 15 years,” Studer said. “His retention rate is likely one of the highest in the company. He holds his team accountable and expects nothing less than perfection. That is what Bob’s team has delivered for the past three-and-a-half decades.”
When the company’s truck shop moved to the Moberly Business Support Campus in 2016, Powell had the opportunity to design its layout. The new shop is the envy of many in the truck-building industry.
Powell has always enjoyed mechanical work and the challenge of fixing things on his own. He got his start working at a full-service gas station when he was 16. Powell continued working at the service station until he joined the U.S. Army at age 18.
He would spend the next four years in the military as a heavy wheel mechanic and wrecker operator stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, and a U.S. outpost in Amberg, Germany. It was in Germany where Powell met his wife-to-be, Doris. They tied the knot in 1984 and have enjoyed 39 years together.
Greer said Powell’s consistency and his team’s ability to handle the majority of the repairs and maintenance on company-owned trucks has made MFA Oil more efficient and saved the co-op a lot of money on work that would otherwise be sent to outside vendors.
“I can’t remember how many times I came to Bob with an issue with a truck, trailer, pump, etc., and he always found a solution,” Greer said.
Studer thanked Powell for his many contributions to the company.
“The size and technology within our trucks have changed greatly since Bob began working for the company in 1986, and Bob has seen us through it all,” Studer said. “He will be greatly missed, but we wish him all the best. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with him. Thank you for all the years of dedicated service, Bob!”
