WAVERYLY, N.Y. – It’s not often you're told that you've worked long and hard enough, or that it's time to go home and stay home for 30 days when you've done everything right – but that's the word Jim Terwilliger has received from Jeff Barber, owner of State Line Auto Auction. Terwilliger has reached an important milestone at State Line Auto Auction: his 25th anniversary, and, in recognition of his years of service, Barber has given him an extra month off this year, in addition to his regular vacation.
Terwilliger began his career with State Line in 1984 in the reconditioning shop, which at that time was housed in a converted horse barn. He was hired by Harry Barber, the auction's founder, though Jim remembers Jeff conducting his interview.
"I really just wanted a job when I went to work for the auction all those years ago," remembers Terwilliger. "But it quickly turned into a career. Working in a progressive company like this one with someone like Jeff Barber, from whom I've learned so much, has been a dream come true."
From the recon shop, Terwilliger moved into the office to become State Line's first ever "telemarketer". Over the years he has developed a rapport with the auction's dealer customers and commercial accounts, and today he serves as sales manager, overseeing a staff of five who are frequently on the road visiting customers.
"Because of his dedicated involvement and great interaction with State Line's customers, 'Jimmy T' is known to everyone as a person who can 'get the job done,'" observed Barber. "It means a great deal to me to work with someone like Jimmy who is so good at what he does and is so dedicated to the auction. His contribution to State Line's success is immeasurable."
Terwilliger has had some memorable experiences and seen many changes over the course of a quarter century at State Line Auto Auction. He remembers the blizzard of '93 that dumped three feet of snow on the lot on the morning of a General Motors sale. The staff worked frantically for hours to clear the lot and clean the cars off to bring them into the auction arena, but after the first 30 cars, the snow got the better of them, and they wound up selling the rest of the cars sight-unseen, right off the program. The biggest change, Terwilliger points out proudly, is State Line's national reputation as one of the leading auctions in the country.
"I can remember the days when we'd invite a GM dealer to the sale and he'd have no idea who we were and couldn't find Waverly, New York on the map," he said. "Today, if you mention State Line to anyone who's involved in this industry, you'll find it's a well-known, well-respected auction."
So what will Terwilliger do with an extra month off this year? He says he'll spend two weeks in July with his wife and teenage children in "paradise" at their beach house on North Carolina's Outer Banks, where he plans to "hang out, read, relax and spend some time each day swimming in the ocean." Then, he plans to spend the rest of his time off at home, catching up on projects around the house and working on his golf game.
Terwilliger is the third employee at State Line Auto Auction to join the prestigious "25-Year Club."
