Bobbie Lee Agler who passed away last week was my closest and most trusted friend; so I am sharing about him despite orders saying I shouldn’t because of my health, but I could not live with myself is did not try.
Bob and I had relationships on many levels; our families were close, we were Jaycees together, we prayed together, we played together, and finally we worked together. He was my rock.
We first met after my family moved to Emporia in 1959. My first encounter with Bob was buying shoes from him at Revelle-McCall shoe store.
Bob and Marcia – his high school sweetheart and spouse for over 60 years and a pillar of strength in this story – developed a large family raising 5 kids and grands and great-grands too numerous to count!
Their Chad and our Brady were the same age. Brady followed Chad into kid’s wrestling starting our family’s interest in the sport.
The Jaycees became a way of life for both of us. The Emporia Jaycees accomplished many positives over time and I as a young college kid learned many valuable lessons from my older brethren like Bob Agler.
Bob and I enjoyed lots of extracurricular activities together like softball, tennis, golf, bowling, bridge and more. Bob was probably never the best player but always was the best teammate.
Bob became my dad’s accountant creating a relationship that lasted past Earl’s death. Bob was the Executor of his Estate. I became a client too and it can accurately be said few if any decisions were ever made by our family that did not include Bob Agler’s blessing.
He was the master of the spreadsheet developing one for virtually every decision. And understand his blessings were not just financial, but often included moral or ethical questions. Bob was a straight shooter who never knowingly let us break the law.
Bob treated each of his many accounting clients as if they were his only concern. He was an amazing practitioner!
Bob ended his career as my associate or partner in several places. I credit his leadership and counsel for many of my successes starting with my clothing store, Valu-Line, our merger with Birch where his efforts were legendary, and finally at ValuNet Fiber. We teased Bob about being an “old grandma” because he was so intentional, slow, and careful – traits that eventually paid big dividends.
After the successful launch of ValuNet Fiber, we noticed Bob was starting to fail as Alzheimer’s disease began to take hold. This was particularly disheartening because Bob was just putting a heroic battle against cancer successfully behind him. I am proud of how this situation was handled with grace by the Agler’s and the ValuNet Fiber crew.
With all that said we haven’t even touched on Bob’s community service. Both professionally and as a volunteer, Bob was a major player at both Lyon County and the City of Emporia where he astounded us by becoming a Commissioner and Mayor! Very importantly too. behind the scenes with the RDA, where decisions were NEVER made without Bob first approving. He was a true unsung hero.
Bob’s list of organizations he helped lead is endless but here are a few: the RDA, Emporia Community Foundation, United Way, Newman and St, Mary’s Hospital Boards, the Christian School, Life Church, Jaycees, Rotary, Emporia State University, and the Chamber who wrapped it all up a few years ago giving Bob Agler their LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. No one ever deserved it more!
But, Bob wasn’t all work and no play. In 1967 he bought himself a new Firebird convertible. After bowling in a Couples League early and a Men’s League late we got in Bob’s new ride, bought a beverage and a cigar, put the top down, turned up the heater, and dragged the gut showing off his new car despite it being 40 degrees!
Visiting with Creig Agler Sunday I mentioned his dad’s dignity in every situation. Creig responded that his dad even showed dignity in the way he ended his life. A point well taken!
You know, there will never be another Bobbie Agler. It’s been my great honor to be his friend. And now it’s comforting to know he’s no longer confused, but likely building spreadsheets for the Lord on those stone tablets.
I’m Ron Thomas for Steve Sauder.
