The roofing industry lost one of its great leaders—and great characters—when Charlie Raymond passed away in September.
His 87 years of enthusiastic living finally caught up with him, and he died exactly as he wanted to: quickly, with no time for people to feel sorry for him.
Charlie's great passion was for the industry's associations (or, as only he could say it, "associAAAtions," as in "you need to belong to all these associAAAtions").
When he started his NRCA involvement in the 1960s, NRCA had 320 members. Charlie understood the huge need and potential for a strong national association, and he set out convincing people that membership ought always to be an association's top priority. Not all of his colleagues agreed, but Charlie was, to understate it enormously, persistent. By the time he became NRCA president in 1974, NRCA had reached the 1,000-member mark. Charlie, naturally, recruited the 1,000th member.
I watched Charlie work his magic on nonmembers on a number of occasions. Some he would simply tell they needed to join, and they would. Others he literally would follow around a trade show floor until they said "yes." And once I watched as he told a prospect that he'd reconsidered and decided the prospect wasn't good enough to belong to NRCA. That prospect chased Charlie down, demanded an application and joined on the spot. It is telling, but not surprising to his friends, that NRCA and the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA) have named their membership awards after Charlie and both recognized him with their most prestigious awards.
They say different times demand different leaders, and Charlie came to NRCA at just the right time. His style probably wouldn't work today: He was never eloquent nor did he go much for compromise. And he was old-school, learning the trade on the roof and rising through the ranks to run a multi-office operation, Giffen Roofing Co. in Miami.
But his style worked perfectly well 30 years ago as he helped put NRCA on a course of growth that would be sustained steadily, much to his joy. And his so-called "retirement" consisted largely of working on behalf of his beloved FRSA selling—always selling—memberships, exhibit space and raffle tickets.
I know there is a special place in heaven for people like Charlie Raymond. And I know, too, that if nonmembers are even allowed in heaven, Charlie will be hunting them down eternally. May he rest in peace.
Bill Good is NRCA's executive vice president.
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