Glass Inc. - Reflections 1999-2019

Work and Play Robert Smith comes from a long line of outdoorsmen. “I like to hunt and fish,” he said, “and it builds good comaraderie, good team building, to just get out of the office, away from the desk, away from the phone, out doing something fun, some- thing that you all have an interest in.” Smith said he likes to make company outings a competition. “I like to stir that pot a little with them,” Smith said. “It just adds to the fun and helps us enjoy spending time together out- side the office.” It All Started with Bobby Robert Smith’s father, Robert “Bobby” Smith, Sr., was an avid outdoorsman. He started taking his sons bird hunting when they were still young boys. He taught them how to fish, how to play baseball, and he coached their little league teams. As the boys grew into men, he loved to spend weekend afternoons on the golf course with his sons. Bobby Smith passed along a great gift: spending leisure time with family, friends, and employees creates a lifelong bond. Robert Smith recalled, “Daddy was a really fine golfer, but in the last years of his life, he had become a bit discouraged when he didn’t hit the ball well or he didn’t have the energy to get out there and play a round of golf with us.” Smith continued, “I’d say, ‘Well, dang, Daddy, you’re 83 years old; you ain’t supposed to be able to hit it like you used to.’” In March 2016, Bobby Smith’s doctor’s discovered the cause of the fatigue — a defective heart valve. “The doctor said, ‘As active as your are, and as healthy as you are, we think you are a good candidate for this surgery,’” Smith recalled. “The doctor assured Daddy that if this were fixed, he’d be able to get out and play golf again, even though he was 84 years old.” The entire Smith family, as well as a preacher, was gathered around Bobby in the hospital prior to the surgery. While the group waited for the surgeon and nurses to prepare the surgical suite, the Smiths and their guest talked about duck hunting. “As they rolled Daddy off toward the surgical unit,” Smith said, “Dad pointed toward the preacher and called out, ‘Don’t forget we’re taking him duck hunting this year!” That was the last thing Robert Smith ever heard his father say. He was lost in surgery. Bobby Smith has remained an inspiration to the Glass, Inc. family. His legacy endures — as does his “Bobby Sauce” recipe. Mirror Blinds Robert has over 55 years of hunting experience and over 35 years of experience in the glass business, so he combined the two and created a revolutionary mirrored duck blind and mir- rored deer stand. The blind is built from sturdy, long-lasting treated lumber covered with 1/4” high-grade mirror. The ex- clusive one-way sliding windows allow a hunter to view game without opening the mirror, which keeps the cold air out, but the mirrors can be opened easily and quietly for that shot of a lifetime. The roomy 6’ x 4’ x 6’-tall blind also has plenty of space for two hunters. Glass, Inc. also donates mirror blinds and stands for various charitable events. Bobby Smith’s life was an inspiration to the Glass, Inc. family — so is his Bobby Sauce recipe. 138 139