Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/745575
e Knox family started their journey in the trash business dating back to the early 1970's. Preston Coomer started his company, Triple C Sanitation, operating twelve trash trucks in the Idalou, Stamford and Graham, TX areas. Preston was a stern, hardworking, successful businessman willing to do whatever it took to take care of his customers and provide for his family. He had three children; Ronald, Wayne, and Carolyn, each who inherited a third of his business upon his passing in the 90's. He was a man who led by example, and his teachings on how to run a prosperous company became instrumental and advantageous in his children's future endeavors. Carolyn, her husband Merle Knox, and their youngest son, Greg, continued operating their portion of the family business until selling in 1995. Merle is a known risk-taker, so it was only a matter of time before a risk was taken - In 2001, Merle, Carolyn, and Greg decided to start their own trash company, Knox Waste Service, in the Abilene area where they lived. Armed with a grand vision for their new company, they were eager to get back into business. However, they claim it was Greg who had the greatest passion in taking on this venture in building a new family- owned operation. He was excited about the possibilities and basked in the challenge of building it from the ground up. With courage and the willingness to take a leap of faith, they received the financial backing needed to start again. e new operation started with 1 trash truck, 400 trash carts, and absolutely zero committed customers on board. As is oen the case with startups, the Knox family hit the ground running fast and hard. ey knocked on doors and kept on knocking. e trio did it all; they were the salesmen, drivers, mechanics, maintenance repairmen, bookkeepers, receptionists and floor sweepers. ey struggled onward with lots of blood and sweat that first year, as 24-7, they lived, ate, drank, and slept Knox Waste Service. ey were eventually able to add an additional staff member, and vividly remember the day Knox Waste made its first hire, Sharon Gallagher, as a truck driver on September 11, 2001. Initially, the primary focus was to serve residential customers, and as the area of Abilene, Texas grew, so did business. In 2003, with an endless amount of hard work and determination, Knox Waste landed its first city contract in Rule, TX. In addition to bringing on more residential business, the Knox family began pursuing other rural city contracts and added the Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, TX to their customer base. e fleet was increased to three units including a used Mack roll-off chassis. Trucks were rolling. Business was booming. And Merle, Carolyn, and Greg's dreams were finally coming to fruition. However, tragedy struck when Greg suddenly became ill. He passed away in February, 2008 leaving his entire family devastated. Greg was just 38 years old with a wife, son and another son expected that summer. He was preceded in death by his son, Wade. Later that same year, Merle Knox was recognized as Small Businessman of the Year; a bittersweet accomplishment, you might say. "Huge loss," and "a big blow," are how the family describes this period of time for Greg's relatives, friends, employees and customers alike. Greg had been a staple in the BRUCKNERTRUCK.COM T R U C K S • C A B S • S L E E P E R S • T R A I L E R S • P A R T S • Q U O T E S 6 MACK TRUCKS HAS A SAYING, "BLOOD, SWEAT & GEARS." BUT MACK CUSTOMER, KNOX WASTE SERVICE, TELLS A STORY OF "Blood, Sweat & Tears." Feature Story KNOX WASTE SERVICE