Albert Willhite has been a regular at the Tillamook Les Schwab tire store since graduating from Tillamook High School in 1988. his rifle and fishing rod. Willhite will officially retire on his December 31st.
After high school, Wilhite pumped gas around the clock, worked for Burden’s Towing, and milked cows for the Bennett family. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Les Schwab’s manager at the time, John Olson, took notice of the young Wilhite and took him out to lunch one day to see if Wilhite would want to work at the tire shop.
“I was a workaholic,” Wilhite recalls. “I started at the entry-level in sales and service. I think it was about $3.75 an hour. So I quit all my other jobs to focus on my new career.”
He proposed to his wife of 32 years, Patsy, the day before he graduated from Tillamook High School, and they were married in 1990. Patsy and Albert have her two boys, Blake, 26, and her 16-year-old, Jake.
“I was young and crazy. Now that I have a new wife, it’s time to settle down and build my career,” Albert said. “Les Schwab was a great choice. Looking back, it was a good decision. It was a great company to work for.”
Albert has always overseen the commercial side of the business and was promoted to Assistant Manager in 2000. That same year, he and Patsy built a dream home on a 16.5-acre lot, which he currently lives in.
Patsy will continue to work full time as a nail tech. She joked that one of her duties after Albert’s retirement is for her to bring her lunch every day.
“I’ll be working on our property, fishing and hunting. We’re very interested in all things outdoors,” Albert said. (Lawrence) said he could come back to run the end of the commercial, but I don’t think that’s going to happen with all of the homes and properties I’ve planned.”
Albert is quick to point out. He leaves the shop in very good shape, all employees are well trained and Les Schwab is a very nice place to work, so many who come behind Albert are few in their jobs. I have years of experience.
“We have a very good crew on our team with many years of tenure,” said Albert.
Albert worked as the store’s interim manager. Usually they are among the managers, Les Schwab was willing to let him run his own store, but that meant moving out, having his dream home in Tillamook and his kids We’re here and we’re still here. Thanks to school, his big family, and a wife who has a good career locally, he’s progressed further than an assistant manager.
“Les Schwab likes to move to a new store if he wants to be general manager,” Albert said. “I was too attached to Tillamook to leave.”
He explained that he knew everyone, had great customers, and loved it here, so moving was out of the question.
“I miss my customers,” he said. “In over 34 years you’ve made many connections and I still hear ‘Albert, Line 1 in my sleep’.”
That’s what Albert loves most, and he’ll miss moving on to the next phase of his life, helping people with their tire needs, and staying on the road.
“I think I miss helping people the most,” he said. “Serving customers, helping people every day, taking care of people. It’s different every day. I have so many amazing customers and I miss that part.”
Albert’s love for his customers, his life’s work and Tillamook was evident, and he also loved mentoring his staff while doing business the Les Schwab way.
After 34 and a half years working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day most weeks, Albert, you deserve it.