NEWBURY PARK, Calif. (BRAIN) — Larry Lewallen, who began his career at Giant in January 1988, is retiring after 28 years with the brand and more than 40 years in the bike industry.
Lewallen began with Giant soon after the brand was launched in the U.S.
"I went in for training at our new facility in Cinnaminson, New Jersey," Lewallen said. "There were three other brand new reps along with Bob Holmes, the general manager, and the newly-hired vice president, Nick Andrade. The training was pretty loose and we all just hit the road and started telling the Giant story." In the early days, territories for Giant sales reps weren't always clearly defined. "My territory was anything west of Pittsburgh," he added. "I could just drive off into the sunset and disappear in a puff of smoke like the roadrunner!"
Lewallen was honored at Giant's annual national sales meeting awards dinner on Wednesday evening.
"I began my career in bicycle retail at Seiler's Bike Shop in Cincinnati at the age of 14. I still keep in contact with some of the guys I worked with back then," he said. "Before coming to Giant, I worked as a sales rep for almost 10 years for Farber Cycle, a regional bicycle distributer based in Detroit. My territory was Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky – so servicing the same markets for Giant was a very smooth transition."
Giant regional sales manager Dave Maurer said, "For almost three decades, Larry has been a role model for other account execs. He's one of the hardest working, most consistent, and dependable reps this industry, or any industry, has ever had."
Lewallen said he will be spending more time with his wife, Paula, since he'll be off the road and since "... we are empty nesters. I have two daughters and two sons. They are all married and have given us 13 grandchildren. Some of our family lives out of state and it's been hard to get to see them very often. Now it will be nice to visit them more frequently."
Still, he admits he will miss visiting retailers. "I've known most of them for 30-plus years. I've seen guys start working in bike shops as teenagers, get married, start families – and some have become shop owners. Some are even now passing their businesses on to their children. It will be very hard to let go and lose regular contact with the dealers. The relationships I've developed go way beyond just business. I consider them very close friends."
