Obituary: Bob Finley, Glasco Electric Supply

The electrical wholesaling industry lost one of the  best-known leaders in the St. Louis electrical industry with the passing on March 28 of Bob Finley, former president and CEO of Glasco Electric Co.

According to his obituary posted on www.legacy.com, Finley was the husband of the late Hilda Ann Finley (nee Leithauser); dear father of Richard (Jennifer), Robert (Teresa), Carole and the late Nancy Finley; dear grandfather of Eric, Jacob, Robert, Hannah, Lucas and Kelsey; dear great-grandfather of Finley; our dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend.

Along with his long tenure at Glasco, according to an email from the Electrical Board of Missouri and Illinois, Finley was a distinguished alumni of Ranken Technical College and a graduate of Washington University.

The staff of Electrical Wholesaling got to know him through the many articles he wrote for the magazine over the years on sales and management tips for electrical distributors. His personality and love for the industry jumped off the pages of the hand-written manuscripts he sent us for publication, and we cherish the many stories he would tell us about life as a salesperson in St. Louis’ tight-knit electrical community.

Bob’s writing was enhanced by his skills as savvy observer of human nature and his love for telling stories. Our favorite tale from the field was Bob’s description of a conversation he had with a contractor who was running a bit late on payment.  When he asked the contractor why he was running late on payment for Glasco, the contractor apparently told him, “At the end of the month, I put all the invoices got in cardboard box and bring them over the back staircase.  I empty the invoices on the stairs, and then walk over them. After I do that, I pick up the ones with a boot print on them and pay those.”

According to his obituary on www.legacy.com, funeral services will be held at the Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd., St. Louis, Mo., on Friday, April 2, 1:00 p.m. Interment Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society appreciated. Visitation Thursday, 4-8 p.m.