Friends of Bill Yeadon (FOBY)

[Danny Strickland]

many have sat in SFS or some other training class taught by Yeadon. But who here "knows" Billly?

I was a lucky sap to be in the "inaugural" Shaw Industries Vertical Intergration class that Bill did some teaching in. We met at Steamway in Denver for a week and then over to Kahn & Co. for hands on training with the crew in Denver for a week.

Bill Doan tried to slave drive us through the weekend but Billy got us a 2 day pass. He took Frank ? and myself on a road trip through Rocky Mt Nat'l Park, and down the other side. If you've never ridden with Bill in a rental car with a classic rock station blaring, him playing air guitar, and 1000' sheer cliffs on either side, well you just haven't lived!!! We also drank some beers and took in a Rockies ball game while there.

I believe Bill started out as a porty hack in St Pete Fl competing with Ricky G and every other bell bottom wearing post Woodstock hippy in South Fl!

How has Bill Yeadon touched you (not in a MaRDY kinda way) in this biz.? I've only sat through 2 classes with him, but can tell he's one of the guys who has shaped what cleaners who give a crap strive for in this biz.

PS There's stories out there about The Bane RV and hitch hikers (A,G or G) but being pre You Tube smart phone era it could all be urban legend?? Old timers please respond!!!

 

[Mark Saiger]

Bill has always been an inspiration for my family.

We have always enjoyed his company and kindness.

He is great at teaching others how to be caring in our industry and also find ways to help any size business thrive and grow.

We love his personality and he was absolutely fantastic helping to reassure my wife that she would do a fine job at the Experience convention in Clearwater Beach Florida.

My family can't thank him enough for his inspiration to all of us...

He amazes me how he finds the time to research and read as much as he does too with his busy schedule.

So thanks Bill for all you have done for all of us!

 

[Shorty]

I first met Big Bill at Connections in '94.

I found him then to be a very likeable & an easy person to talk to.

So much so, that I came back & attended SFS in Roselle in September 1966, along with Rugs to Run From with Lisa Wagner.

I also concur with what Mark has stated, Bill has been an inspiration to us as well.

Plus he has good taste in brews, as well as a cheeky Irish side to him.

 

[Wing It]

Bill was the instructor at my first iicrc carpet cleaning class in Atlanta about 12 years ago. My buddies and I had been in the biz for 2 years and thought we knew everything. We were wrong. He politely took all the misinformation my boss had given me and set me straight. Since then I have taken several classes from the iicrc. I have yet to find an instructor as positively memorable as bill yeadon.

 

[Mikey P]

Bill has been a huge assest to this board and our Fest.
His generosity with his time and energy towards this industry goes far beyond "just doing his job"..

Jon Don should be bery proud

 

[mirf]

Before I even started I attended SFS and learned so much from his presentation. That was in 2002 and just the tip of the knowledge he shares so freely.
Always envied his ability to read sooo much.
Thanks Bill.

 

[Shane Deubell]

Bill is a very diverse guy. He knows the technical subjects and business subjects.

Rare someone can go back/forth like that.

 

[Bob Savage]

Danny,

You haven't lived until you've ridden in a rental car driven by Jo Jo Bamboo, regardless of which road you are on!!

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Bill is one of the mostly informed trainers in our industry.

I know few, if any, instructors who study his craft as well as him. I don't just mean staying abreast of industry facts and issues, but also studying how to be a better trainer.

For all his knowledge, experience, intelligence, and wisdom, Bill remains the most humble of men.

 

[Dolly Llama]

only met Bill a couple times briefly

he's "genuine", is the thought that came to my mind

..L.T.A.

 

[HydroDude]

I've known Bill for almost 20 years, from upholstery cleaning instruction at Advantage to Water Damage at Hydro Lab...he has referred me to his own Mom and Large Corporations. ..has hired me to work in his own home...feel blessed to call my fellow Hoosier a friend.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

31 years and counting, with never a negative moment with Bill.

He is one of my favorite industry people.

 

[bob vawter]

are we talkin' about the guy that out some lipstick on and kissed a napkin and tol me it was from greengirl.....?

OHH WAIT that was the jacket monkey girl..... Robinsons wife......sucks to get old!!!

 

[billyeadon]

Thanks everyone, when I first saw this I thought either I had retired but I still got a paycheck on Friday, or I had died. But as Twain said the reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Thanks to everyone for the nice comments. It has been a blessing to have worked with so many great people over the last 40 years. Not planning on going anywhere for awhile.

 

[Desk Jockey]

A gentleman. Truly a class act in everything he does!

Whether you're an aristocrat or broke dick bum, he treats you equally well. The man is too cool!

 

[Danny Strickland]

Yeadon, now that Bill Bane has passed, can you please tell us a few teaser stories about road trips in the RV?

Didn't you have an office right on the strip in Speedway In.??? How many faded pics do you have of female "race fans" on Saturday walking in front of your office???

 

[billyeadon]

Danny already sold the rights to the book and movie.

 

[encapman]

Billy's a great guy - even though he works for JonDon.

I've always liked Bill! How could I not like a guy who drinks Guinness, loves good coffee, is a huge Tour De Fance fan, and loves cycling? Plus he's a heck of a nice guy too.

 

[Mikey P]

Rick I was really impressed with your home town of St Pete..

So much to do inside and out.

Isn't Bill originally from there too?

 

[doylebloss]

Bill and I met at some carpet industry event in the late 1890's when I was working at Steam Way and he was working at Bane Clene. We actually met relaxing in a hotel hot tub after a long day of meetings. My first question to him of course was "Shouldn't you be sitting in a warm water tub?"

I have met a lot of wonderful and giving people in this industry who went out of their way to help cleaners and restorers succeed. Bill has to be right up there at the top of the list. I am grateful for his friendship over these too many years.

Best of all, now that he has been working at Jon-Don all these years, he can sit in the hot tub at the hotel.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Bill and I met at some carpet industry event in the late 1890's when I was working at Steam Way and he was working at Bane Clene. We actually met relaxing in a hotel hot tub after a long day of meetings. My first question to him of course was "Shouldn't you be sitting in a warm water tub?"

I have met a lot of wonderful and giving people in this industry who went out of their way to help cleaners and restorers succeed. Bill has to be right up there at the top of the list. I am grateful for his friendship over these too many years.

Best of all, now that he has been working at Jon-Don all these years, he can sit in the hot tub at the hotel.

I so wish I could find one of Bane Clene's old magazines that really REALLY attacked super hot truck mount temperatures. They were fun reading.

Do you remember Bill Bane's (I am saying this with loving respect of his memory, as we become good friends in his later years) funny poster shown as a cartoon in his magazine about a "fictional" trade organization that decided to use this name?

Society of
Heat
Injection
Technicians

I think we know what association he meant.

I thought that it was bold and a little unlike Bill Bane's "Normal Rockwell America" image, but it cracked me up. You can't say they didn't have quite the sense of humor over there in Indy....

Does Bill Yeadon remember that issue?

 

[encapman]

Rick I was really impressed with your home town of St Pete..

So much to do inside and out.

Isn't Bill originally from there too?

Glad you enjoyed St Petersburg. St Pete has really grown into a cool little cosmos in the last few years (especially the downtown waterfront). Plenty of great restaurants, craft breweries, Salvadore Dali museum, some historical charm, and a lot of sunshine. Clearwater Beach (where The Experience show is held) is pretty nice too.

Yep Bill Yeadon used to live in St Pete - before St Pete was cool.

 

[encapman]

Bill and I met at some carpet industry event in the late 1890's

I knew Bill was old, but I had no idea you were that old Doyle!

 

[J Scott W]

Doyle, I did not know you and bill were around in the 1890s, but if you say so.

I first worked with Bill on planning committees for SCRT conventions which were the fore-runner of The Experience east coast events. Bill always kept his cool and kept us on track even when dealing with some very widely separated opinions and personalities. Enjoyed playing a few rounds of rock music trivia with Bill at those events.

Like several in this industry, much more a friend than a competitor.

 

[bob vawter]

Jimmey sez.......and how many here got a cease and desist letter for stealin' them hose borders........i had a full yellow page ad with the Bane hose border ....a whole year........
yes they freaked right the f out............continued to use it for 40 years......on my business cards!

any comment Mikey?

 

[billyeadon]

Jim,
I have several of the old BC Digests around in the basement. I will look to see if I have that one. I remember when I first met Ralph Bloss at ASCR in San Diego. He was real nice and put his arm around my shoulder and asked me why Bill Bane insisted on publishing pics of burned out Truck Mounts.

I so wish I could find one of Bane Clene's old magazines that really REALLY attacked super hot truck mount temperatures. They were fun reading.

Do you remember Bill Bane's (I am saying this with loving respect of his memory, as we become good friends in his later years) funny poster shown as a cartoon in his magazine about a "fictional" trade organization that decided to use this name?

Society of
Heat
Injection
Technicians

I think we know what association he meant.

I thought that it was bold and a little unlike Bill Bane's "Normal Rockwell America" image, but it cracked me up. You can't say they didn't have quite the sense of humor over there in Indy....

Does Bill Yeadon remember that issue?