worked for marion in tampa in 1984. Bruce Wood hired me and then he retired a rich man. Bert Wilcher took over and he was one great guy. Those were the good ole days. He was fair and nice to work with. I started at $20/yr plus bonus. I work for AZ now..not a bad company. The pay has jumped way up since those days.
I am with a biotech (not the best one). I really miss the values we grew up with. It has been 25 years since starting with Marion on the West coast. I still respect our industry, but Marion was a unique model.
Anyone know what happened to Merle Woods, goverment rep.with Marion?? Is he still alive? Living? Where? He was a great guy.
Went to work for a start up biotech. I was hoping with Neurocrine to get back that feeling we had at Marion. Wasn't to be as the FDA turned back our med...oh well. Miss Marion to this day...greatest company ever. I remember Gary Spahn and how well he did at National Meetings, ring, uncommon, and Dudley Hudgins...still the toughest trainer I have ever had. I remember chills when they called M clubbers and the hope I could someday be one.
Those were great days. Larry Golden hired me in 1984. I worked for almost 10 years. I am with J&J now. I still run into many people from KC who really respected the co.
I believe Merle has passed on - I'd suggest looking for the Marion Phoenix that might give you a lead on finding some past associates.
I joined Marion Labs 1/23/1989 and covered the Ft. Worth and Central Illinois markets. Best company I have worked for. Great people, products, and culture. This was sustained even after the Marion Merrell Dow merger. I left in 1996 to go to work at Serono Labs, at the time a small biotech company. For the first year I was lost without the great support network I had at MMD. I am on Linked In for those who wish to reconnect!
I joined Merrell National in 1980. It became Merrell Dow soon after. I got wonderful training, respected my colleagues, and learned a lot. While I left for a great new opportunity, I will always be grateful for all I got while at Merrell. I miss the days when hard work was rewarded by loyalty on the part of your employer. I guess it was a different time in history.
My first contact in the industry was Tom White in Tulsa. I know he ended up in the Denver area, but that was many years ago. He was a fine gentleman and even though I worked for another company for 36 years and retired as an RD, I never forgot many principles that Tom taught me as a kid out of college and those served me well over the years. I don't know if he is living now but if he is, i would love to say hello to him.
Merle has passed over. He was a great story-teller and had a ton. As President Kennedy's personal pharmacist, many biographers would have loved to discuss what he knew but never shared. A fascinating example of understanding of what was important and how to serve the country.
Does anyone know where Vic Dhillon is? He was a Marion Merrell Dow rep in San Diego County and a good friend of mine. Vic and my district manager (not Merrell) were good friends from the Los Angeles area. Vic has retired, but I need some help in contacting him.
