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“i’m glad dad aNd them haVe allowed us to go out there aNd make

mistakes. they allow us to look them iN the eye aNd say we’Ve made a
mistake, aNd they ask us, ‘well, how are you goiNg to fix it?’”

Mississippi, and employs 270 people. a couple of dramatic photos of rigs that of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
They opened their Little Rock branch wrecked, something Rod Maddox, who “Man, we have Griz fever,” he said.
in 1985, where they sell Volvo trucks, put the history wall together, felt was “We’ve got season tickets. Games start
and some of those employees have been important to include. It was, after all, in November and end in June, if you get
there since day one. Other branches supposed to be as full a history as pos- that far. It’s a fun ride and it’s big for
are in Jonesboro, Arkansas; Jackson, sible, and you have to acknowledge the Memphis, and the people of Memphis
Tennessee; and Tupelo, Meridian, and bad with the good. have really jumped on the bandwagon
Jackson, Mississippi. Look close enough and you’ll find a and supported the team. We go down-
The Memphis headquarters, at the very young Will Maddox in a few of the town before the games, go to Silky
intersection of E.H. Crump and Danny photos, grinning at the camera, already O’Sullivan’s, or to Alfred’s,” two popu-
Thomas boulevards, occupies the former learning the family trade. lar hang-outs.
site of Martin Stadium, which hosted “I knew a long time ago I wanted to Will is an avid golfer and also
Negro League baseball games before the work here,” he said. “In fact, there was enjoys hunting. The family has a
Major Leagues integrated. no question I was going to work here. I place for duck hunting near Hughes,
Tri-State bought the property in wanted to so badly. I think a lot of that, Arkansas, that they label “Bulldog
1960 and opened the current dealership for all of us – speaking for my brother Bayou” in tribute to the Mack Trucks
building in 1961. Walk inside and you’ll James and my cousin Paul – is respect bulldog mascot.
find yourself surrounded by Maddox for Dad and Rod and our grandfather.” And while Bulldog Bayou was once
hunting trophies from several conti- That respect also extends to clients a simple place for male bonding, that’s
nents – ducks, geese, turkeys, whitetail and prospective customers, and Maddox changed in recent years. “My mom got
deer, antelope, wildebeest, mountain sees it as the key to the company’s ahold of our cabin and decorated it,”
sheep, caribou, big cats, and a bear ongoing success. he said cheerily. “So now we call it the
standing at full height. “I’ve kind of gravitated to sales, and Bulldog Baby Club, because of all the
Step around the cubicles occupied I like making friends,” he said. “That’s kids. It’s a big family deal and we love
by the sales team – Will Maddox’s desk all we’re really doing, making friends it.”
is in one of those – and you’ll find and that’s wonderful. This is so much
an equally impressive display: A long fun. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t old ScHool
hallway covered end-to-end in photos, do it. It’s kind of pressure-free, yet we Visit with Will’s father Jim Maddox
plaques, and other memorabilia from want this to be a success for many – president of Tri-State and co-owner
the company’s history. years, to support my family and my with his brother Rod, who serves as
Photos of some of the first trucks relatives’ families.” chairman – and you’ll hear a lot of
sold by F.A. Sr. – including a 1911 Mack Maddox’s family includes his wife, that same love of family and the family
that the company still has, totally Mary, and their 10-month-old daughter, business reflected in his words. Having
restored and resplendent in red and Notley. They live in Memphis and love grown up in the business himself (he
yellow paint. There are certificates it, he says, while acknowledging it’s a and Rod started working under the eye
and banners from when Tri-State was city that has its share of troubles. But of F.A. Maddox Jr. in the 1970s), Jim
named Mack’s national distributor of it’s important to him as part of a family knows how important it is to foster a
the year in 1982, 1992, 2010, and 2012 that owns a Memphis-based business to sense of dedication to the business, and
– photos of customers standing by their show support for the city, he said. He it’s good to see their sons not to just
new rigs, or socializing with various does that not just by living in down- carry on the family tradition but to
Maddoxes over the years. There are even town Memphis, but by being a huge fan infuse new energy and ideas into it.

26 arkansas Trucking reporT | issue 4 2013