Guest column: A Remarkable Man

When Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles established his "iron man" record of playing in 2,632 consecutive games, his unique achievement was celebrated throughout the baseball world.

A man in Naples, in a quite different profession, in virtual obscurity, is still actively compiling a record for longevity in his field that may become longer than anyone in the nation, and possibly even in the world.

He has been selling cars for more than 56 years.

Richard "Dick" Knesebeck, now 80, was discharged from the U.S. Marines after three years of active service that included one year in Korea during the Korean War.

After holding a couple of jobs not particularly to his liking, he turned to selling cars in 1955, at first in his native Ohio and since 1982 in Florida. He has been doing so ever since.

Knesebeck learned a lot about people on the battlefields of Korea. He realized what was important in human relationships and put that knowledge into action in his new profession. In a business often symbolized by sharp pencils, operated under high pressure to meet sales quotas, and disparaged for excessive efforts to foist upon customers' extras that they did not want or need, Knesebeck proceeds in a different manner.

He values each potential customer and works to help them find the car they want. If they need advice in matching cars to needs, he is happy to provide it, always placing the buyer's values first. Knesebeck does not want any customer to make a purchase and then regret it, or have the customer feel he has been taken.

This method made Knesebeck a successful salesman, over time building up a clientele of satisfied customers who return to him when they are interested in buying a car.

The longer he sold cars, the greater his list of satisfied customers grew.

Today, at DeVoe Cadillac in Naples, Knesebeck still sells cars — but only to repeat customers. They provide him with all the work he can manage at his stage of life.

"I will continue as long as I can do the job right, as long as I enjoy the work, and as long as my health holds out,'' he tells me. "This is a wonderful business. Selling cars gives you a chance to meet some of the nicest people in the world."

His customers seem to feel the same way about him.

Knesebeck does not believe he is at all unusual. Everywhere there are people who go about their business, whatever it is, with the thought of serving others.

They may labor in obscurity but these good neighbors are all around us, if we only look.

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I consider him a good friend although our paths have long been quite separate.

I grew up with Knesebeck in Cleveland. I corresponded with him the entire time he was in the Marine Corps. I moved from Ohio in 1957.

Over the last 40 years or so I've seen him once in Florida and once or twice n Ohio. We have occasionally talked by phone.

I consider him an exceptional person who can easily serve as a role model. No one without his characteristics could survive 56 years selling cars and enjoying it. He is low-key, honest and really cares about others.

FYI, I purchased a car from Knesebeck in 1958 in Ohio. His approach was the same then as it is now.