my talking. Along the way I helped to train a number of future Iowa speech therapists. I also earned a BA degree with majors in Speech Pathology & Audiology and Psychology and a minor in Public Speaking.
From Iowa University, I started work in the Council Bluffs Public Schools as a speech teacher. I met and married the love of my life, Kathy. Stuttering still played a big role in my life. This was also the time of raising our young family with the demands of time and money.
It is important to take time for speech therapy. That
time is your friend. Be not in a big hurry to talk,
but take the time to talk.
After successful careers in teaching and serving in many positions within Proctor & Gamble (securing the Pepto- Bismol brand, among other achievements), I was able to retire with full benefits at the age of 52 . I began to consider and dream about the next phase of my life.
As a boy, my father would take me to farm auctions. I fell in love with the auction then and the auctioneering chant, in particular. But how could I, as a severe stutterer, ever become an auctioneer? I received support and encouragement from friends, family, and well-respected peers. Still I knew many others must have thought I was crazy. I was given the advice "you will never know unless you try". It gave me the motivation to give it a shot.
During this same time, the Convention of the National Stuttering Association was happening in Atlanta. They were having an auction for fun and financial support for the organization. I ask the person serving as auctioneer if I could auction an item? He said yes. I purchased a box of Pepto-Bismol tablets for $5.00. That evening at the very end of the auction, the auctioneer, Dr. Lee Reeves called me to the podium and introduced me. I said a few words about Pepto-Bismol and then started the bidding. I went from $0.50 to $1…$2… $5…$10…$15…$20…$25…$30…$40… and finally $50! I sold the box of Pepto-Bismol tablets for $50.00 to a person from Texas. This gave me the confidence to move forward with my Auctioneering Dream.
I attended the Southeastern School of Auctioneering in 1999. I did well in school, took the South Carolina Auctioneers Exam, scored well and now I have been a licensed South Carolina Auctioneer for 20 years.
Jake has been married to his wife Kathy for 49 years. They have three grown and married children,
Jacob John (JJ), Johnell Ray and Kenneth Michael, as well as a grandson, Wyatt.
Jake is actively involved with a local stuttering support group, “We Stutter Upstate” in Greenville, South Carolina (pictured above).
Over many years of auctioneering, I have personally conducted a large number of auctions, from personal estates to benefit fundraisers. My first love is auction fundraisers for worthy causes, and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to help so many with worthwhile needs.
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