Page 71 - Gary's Book - Final Copy 7.9.2017_Active

shared the story with the staff and the boss; I was later teased by those who could
speak English.

Afterwards, I went back to the hotel, boiled some water, put my newly purchased
medicinal bark in a soup bowl, soaked it for about fifteen minutes and drank it.
For some reason, I did get rid of my headache, and we went to dinner.

As good as Dow Corning was, sometimes they would question my actions. Once
after setting up the office in the Philippines, I wanted to send the staff to Midland,
Michigan, for company orientation and product training. Normally this was done in
the winter, but none of the employees from the Philippines had winter attire. So, I
told them to go buy clothing, boots and coats and put them on my expense account.
Also, I bought a Nikon camera to use when at competitors’ plant sites. The

American accountants didn’t like these purchases and challenged them. I would
really get in their britches about it because we needed these.

China and Southeast Asia will always be remembered as a highlight in my life. Sue
and I vacationed in China where we walked the Wall and did all the touristy things
before it became commercialized. She learned to play Mahjong, and our daughter,
Anne, once represented Hong Kong in a gymnastics competition with China. But

after four years, my assignment in Asia was over. I was assigned to an upper
management assignment in Midland, Michigan. The man I was to replace was in
poor health and was planning to retire. Sue and the children were excited about
returning to the U.S. where all our family was. They were all ready and prepared to
go. I was comfortable with this move, too. Along with being among family, I

would be promoted.

Upon arriving in Midland, I got a call from the vice-president of marketing saying
I should report to him the next morning and to cancel all plans of looking for
houses, schools and doctors. He told me that the man I was replacing had elected to
remain in his position for an extended time and that Dow Corning, being the
people company that it was, did not want to release him. Since the man was staying

on, his position was no longer available; therefore,d I was being assigned to an
office in Chicago. The meeting was short. They explained that the assignment in
Chicago would remain in a holding pattern for a year or so and that I would be a
top-level regional sales manager for the Eastern half of the USA for the Elastomers

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