The 13th Annual Torch Award for marketplace Ethics was presented to two Abilene businesses at an award luncheon on the campus of Abilene Christian University. Condley and Company LLP and Procter Automotive were selected from a field of 21 nominees in the annual competition to select outstanding examples of ethical business conduct. An independent panel of judges made up from the business and academic community select the winning companies from the nominees. The Torch Awards are held in partnership with our three Universities. The keynote speaker was David Swearingen, Executive-in-Residence, College of Business Administration at Abilene Christian University. Mr. Swearingen praised the local business community for its customer service and the Better Business Bureau for its program known as the West Texas Mediation Center, a partnership with the Center for Conflict Resolution at ACU. “We all know right from wrong and it’s important to uphold these standards in the workplace.” Please congratulate the winners and honorees listed below.
Condley and Company LLP
993 N 3rd
This long time Certified Public Accounting firm has been in Abilene for 72 years. The company’s philosophy “Founded on Principal, Focused on Service” is what they use to inspire their employees to represent the very best in professional standards and display them every day.
Condley and Company is a member of the American Institution of certified Public Accountants. They were one of the first CPA firms in Texas to voluntarily participate in a triennial peer review process and have received the highest possible rating on each peer review preformed on the firm.
The firm is well recognized in the accounting industry, Managing Partner Leroy Bolt was honored with the Meritorious Service Award by the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants for his long-standing contributions. Another Managing Partner Ray Ferguson serves on the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. The company is also active in fundraising for the American Heart Association and United Way of Abilene.
Procter Automotive 
1325 Butternut
Procter Automotive is a family owned business and, has been in business, continuously, at the same location for over 60 years having started in 1947. Owner, Jimmy Campbell, began working there as an employee in 1978 and then bought the business in 1981. Over the years the company has grown, expanding into an additional building recently and have extensively remodeled, turning their corner of Abilene into a showcase location. The Automotive Training Institute is the premier automotive consulting firm in the United States and has named this business as one of the top 75 repair shops in the USA.
Procter has earned the respect of their peers in the automotive industry, earning the approval of AAA. Here is what one vendor said, “I have known Jimmy for over 30 years and his is an honest and hardworking individual. Jimmy and Peggy Campbell own one of the most respected and top rated automotive repair shops in Abilene, with state of the are equipment to provide the best service repair to their many customers. They have fair processes and run a very ethical business.”
Abilene Trailer Sales
3608 Pine St
Oren McGrew the owner of Abilene Trailer Sales says he’s retired and as such gets to show up every day to work and then gets the pleasure of staying late. After a career as a teacher & coach then working for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission for 23 years he did retire and purchased Abilene Trailer Sales as a family owned business 18 years ago. His spouse, Letha McGrew, is also retired, but she is behind the counter at the business daily. She had a 30 year career as a music teacher at Abilene Independent School District, and was founding director of the Woodson Bell Choir.
Growing up on a cotton farm in Anton Texas, north of Lubbock Oren McGrew could pick a hundred pounds after school during harvest time. He says if you are a good teacher, you are a good salesperson. Job one with their business is to be honest with your customers. Try to treat people the way you’d like to be treated and when you have complaints take care of them.
Max’s Automotive 
126 Green
Max’s Automotive has been a family run business for 24 years, but owner Maxey Chittum has been twisting wrenches for a lot longer than that. Graduating from Abilene High School he served his country in the military. When he came home he went to work at McCright’s Garage at 141 Burger. In 1987 he wanted to go into business for himself, but he didn’t have to move very far because his location was on the opposite end of the same block at 126 Green street. He began with one employee and his wife and is still in the same location.
Since then the company has grown and all of the mechanics are ASE certified with three being ASE Master Technicians. Maxey’s customer policy is simple, just be honest. “We all make mistakes, the important thing is to take care of it when it happens,” he said.
The Paint Center 
2821 S 1st
24 years ago Chris Cummings was an estimator for a sand blasting and painting firm and was worried about his future with a company having financial trouble. He walked into the Paint Center as a customer and the owner at the time, Don Mead said, “I hear you are looking for a job.” He left as the companies paint salesman. That was in 1988 and Chris Cummings is still the company’s number one salesman and now the owner of The Paint Center.
Chris Cummings is the first to admit he knew nothing about paint when he started. He was fortunate to have been hired by Don Mead. It was a relationship that went from employee – employer; to student – mentor; and ended up with a bond almost like father and son. The most important thing he learned was customers are always first. Chris says no matter what happens make sure the customer leaves with a smile on his face.
Providing super customer service is what the company strives for especially by going above and beyond what is expected. Cummings believes that putting people first is the key to success, “Caring about people is not something you can teach, it’s in your heart. If you care enough, everything else falls into place.”
Ram Business Forms
2801 S. Treadaway
Andy Esparza is a product of Abilene Texas. Born in Saint Ann’s Hospital he attended public schools in Abilene. He started his working career during junior high and high school, at the downtown cafeteria for Mack Eplen to save up enough money for his first car. 
He began a printing career by going to work for Moore Business Forms in 1978 and worked his way up to regional manager over Abilene, San Angelo, and Midland. When the company restructured in 1989 and offered to transfer Andy to Laredo or Dallas, he decided it was time to start his own business.
So in 1990 Ram Business Forms was born with one customer. Andy quickly added other customers and in about 6 months he was so busy his wife Rosemary joined the business full time. Ram grew and bought out Champaign Printing at S 7th and Butternut and eventually Collier Printing. They moved to their present location at 2801 S. Treadaway in 2000. The Esparza family says, “When we get complaints we fix them.”
