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2 0 0 0 A W A R D W I N N E R
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Tom Cundy, age 8. |
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Although he had no formal education, he was very bright and played
a large role in molding Cundy's foundation. Cundy described
his grandmother as the "love of my life. She had a great
love for her family and never said an unkind word about anyone.
I always felt that I could never fail with someone like her
in my corner."
Cundy's introduction to selling began at an early age. In the second
grade he sold Liberty magazines door-to-door. "I was a
good salesman," he says, "which came in handy later
in life. I had no call reluctance and never took rejection
personally." His determination to succeed was evident
even at that young age. To make more money, he usually held
two jobs, doing such things as delivering newspapers, cutting
grass, running errands, and shoveling coal. "I did all I
could to make even a quarter," he recalls.
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| (l
to r) Tom Cundy's grandfather; John Patrick; his
grandmother; Lou Emma Maloney; and his mother;
Nettie Mae Maloney. |
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"At the end of each day, my mother and I pooled our
earnings." Even though Cundy and his mother lacked
monetary assets, they were rich in such character traits as
discipline, honesty, and perseverance. He had a deep love and
respect for his mother who could be intense and demanding, but
who also worked hard to help her son in every way possible.
During the Depression, Bellevue, Kentucky, benefited from the WPA
construction of a sports complex consisting of a stadium,
tennis and basketball courts, and fields for football, track,
and baseball. Cundy remembers every kid in Bellevue hanging
out at that stadium. It was there that his love of sports was
fostered. He began playing tennis when he was 10, and a friend
of his mother's, Roger Klein, tutored him in the game.
"Coach Klein was also the high school driver education
teacher and all the students loved him," says Cundy.
"He was funny and a good listener, and he became my
mentor.
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