I began my career in the HVAC business in 1970 as a truck driver for an AC/refrigeration wholesaler. I stayed there just six weeks because my father — who worked for a manufacturers’ rep — told me there was an opening for a clerk at the rep. It paid $110 a week, which was $10 more than I was getting driving the truck. Plus, I’d get to work with him as my boss.

It was good to get that small raise in salary because the first wage-and-price freeze was about to kick in, and the first OPEC oil embargo wasn’t far behind. The 1970s were going to be interesting.