The Hytrol Story

production personnel. As they got to know him, they respected him and understood quickly that he was a leader and not a driver. With Ralph in place, Hytrol’s production area started jumping! Sam Leone had been watching the Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle battle to hit 60 homeruns in one baseball season. This gave Sam the idea of a promotion to ship $60,000 for the month of July. The slogan, “Going for Sixty” became the byword over the next few weeks. A small blackboard was hung in the sales area with this slogan written at the top and each day, the month’s total was chalked under the slogan. The enthusiasm to make the goal spread quickly and every employee, including the production group, came in each day to check the total. Ralph decided that, in order to reach this objective, his team would need to ship $3,000 a day. With shipments now being made every day, everyone became keenly aware of the $60,000 goal. At the end of the month, the total shipments for August were $72,000! Ralph had broken every record in just his first month at Hytrol! And, toward the end of the month, there was no longer any backlog. By that time, Ralph and his team were making frequent trips to the front office looking for more orders. Ralph’s working habits were consistent with his personality. He was always energetic and optimistic. He, like his friend Sam Leone, loved associating with people. He had a continuous presence in the Hytrol plant. He wasn’t one to stay cooped up in his office, but preferred to get out and mingle with the workers. At the same time, he ran a “tight ship” and demanded the machinery be well maintained. He was always conscious of the entire production area’s needs and employee’s welfare. From the first day Ralph walked into the Hytrol plant, he felt as if he belonged there. He once remarked that even on his first visit, he felt right at home, as if he was destined to be a part of the Hytrol Family. No one could argue that Ralph’s association has been one of the factors in Hytrol’s success.