Glass Inc. - Reflections 1999-2019

2 The Birth of Glass, Inc. “You’re good at what you do. Start your own company. Start small, if you have to. The community will support you.” E.M. “Hoot” Gipson R obert Smith had spent the last ten years of his life building the commercial division of Mississippi Paint and Glass. Hearing those words — Clean out your desk. Today is your last day — Smith was in shock. “You’ve got to be kidding?” “I can’t afford to pay you,” the owner said. “I’m just going to run it from here on.” Smith left the room and walked toward the back of the facility where his commercial construction crew worked. Smith told them what had transpired. “I guess y’all will be working for him, now.” One of the crew said, “We ain’t working for him.” “Well,” Smith said, “I don’t know what to tell you. He told me to clean out my desk.” Smith left Mississippi Paint and Glass not knowing exactly what to do next. But he knew he needed to let some people know what had transpired. 19