SKOKIE, Ill. — William “Bill” Webb, a longtime representative of Tingue, Brown & Co., died on May 11, the company reports.
Tingue says the company found Webb working at Model Laundry in Cincinnati, where he had been since he was 9 years old.
“If there had been child labor laws in place, Bill would have fought them himself, because Bill loved to work!” shares Tingue.
With only a little convincing, Webb joined the supplier’s side of the business. Tingue says he did an outstanding job representing Tingue, Brown & Co. in his Midwest territory, making many friends and building a great territory.
Webb was actively involved in NAILM (now the Association for Linen Management–ALM) and was a regular speaker in the early days of the American Laundry and Linen College.
One of Webb’s colleagues was Ed Curran, and together they founded C&W Equipment in 1976, Tingue shares, going on to say C&W helped professionalize the world of rebuilt and used equipment.
Webb left C&W around 1988 to begin other ventures, including consulting work with longtime healthcare laundry operator and current American Laundry News contributor Eric Frederick as his partner.
After a move to Florida, Webb was recruited back to the world of padding salesman to work with the Soalco Products Co. He was pleased to join Tingue, Brown & Co. once again after Soalco was acquired by the Tingue family in 1998. The company says he more than tripled Tingue, Brown’s business in South Florida before retiring in 2005.
Webb never got too far away, as his daily calls of inspiration to Tingue reps, new and veteran alike, proved to be great motivators for another generation of supply salesmen, according to the company. His vast experience was called on regularly. Even as his health was declining, Webb was anxious to help.
In 2010, Webb was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ty Acton, current president of the company, the only such honor ever awarded by Tingue, Brown & Co.
Webb is survived by his wife Dee and children Jeff, Mike, Patty, Dean, and Tammy, as well as 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. A celebration of life service is scheduled for May 23 from 4-8 p.m. at Tuscany Clubhouse, 2339 Rolling Hills Drive, Covington, KY 41017.
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