Bob Farrell (motivational speaker)
Encyclopedia
Robert E. "Bob" Farrell (Brooklyn, New York 1927 – ) is an American
motivational speaker
, author, and founder of Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant
.
, it took its toll on the business and the family. Farrell's father committed suicide
when Farrell was four, and his mother placed him and his sister in an orphanage
. She remarried in 1934 and retrieved her children from the orphanage.
Farrell left high school
to join the Air Force
in 1945. After World War II
ended, Farrell served at radar stations throughout the Pacific Northwest
. On leave
, at a local ballroom
, he met his future wife, Ramona, they married in 1946, and Farrell went back to school to finish his business degree. His first civilian
job was with Heinz Foods; a year later, he approached their competitor, Libby Foods, and started his career as a salesman, serving Mom and Pop
grocery store
s, distinguishing himself by setting sales records, creative marketing and becoming regional sales manager. Farrell had three daughters during this period.
s, which they opened in Portland, Oregon
, on September 13, 1963. In 1968, with six stores, Farrell decided to franchise his concept. He appeared on the Merv Griffin Show, received the Horatio Alger Award from Norman Vincent Peale
, and built the World's Largest Sundae for the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 1973, Farrell sold his 55 store chain of ice cream parlor
s to the Marriott Corporation, but remained as its spokesperson and developed a speech for new employees called Give 'em the Pickle!, based on a letter he received from a disappointed customer.
Farrell resides in Portland, Oregon
and is actively involved in Young Life
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, author, and founder of Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour is an American ice cream parlor chain that was started in Portland, Oregon by Bob Farrell and Ken McCarthy in 1963 . Farrell's became known for their offer of a free ice cream sundae to children on their birthday...
.
Early life
Farrell's grandfather, Patrick Farrell, owned a successful auto parts company in Brooklyn. When the stock market crashed in 1929Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
, it took its toll on the business and the family. Farrell's father committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
when Farrell was four, and his mother placed him and his sister in an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
. She remarried in 1934 and retrieved her children from the orphanage.
Farrell left high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
to join the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in 1945. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended, Farrell served at radar stations throughout the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. On leave
Furlough
In the United States a furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of some employees due to special needs of a company, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole...
, at a local ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
, he met his future wife, Ramona, they married in 1946, and Farrell went back to school to finish his business degree. His first civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
job was with Heinz Foods; a year later, he approached their competitor, Libby Foods, and started his career as a salesman, serving Mom and Pop
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
s, distinguishing himself by setting sales records, creative marketing and becoming regional sales manager. Farrell had three daughters during this period.
Ice cream
Farrell approached a friend, Ken McCarthy, to leave his job at Carnation and join him creating Farrell's Ice Cream ParlourFarrell's Ice Cream Parlour
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour is an American ice cream parlor chain that was started in Portland, Oregon by Bob Farrell and Ken McCarthy in 1963 . Farrell's became known for their offer of a free ice cream sundae to children on their birthday...
s, which they opened in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, on September 13, 1963. In 1968, with six stores, Farrell decided to franchise his concept. He appeared on the Merv Griffin Show, received the Horatio Alger Award from Norman Vincent Peale
Norman Vincent Peale
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
, and built the World's Largest Sundae for the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 1973, Farrell sold his 55 store chain of ice cream parlor
Ice cream parlor
Ice cream parlors are places that sell ice cream and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is normally sold in two varieties in these stores: soft-serve ice cream , and hard-packed, which has an assortment of flavors, as well as frozen yogurt, which is a low-fat alternative and tastes slightly...
s to the Marriott Corporation, but remained as its spokesperson and developed a speech for new employees called Give 'em the Pickle!, based on a letter he received from a disappointed customer.
Motivational speaker
Since 1973, Farrell has been involved with the launch of several very successful restaurant chains. In 2002, he put his Pickle speech to video, followed by The Leadership Pickles!Farrell resides in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and is actively involved in Young Life
Young Life
YoungLife is a worldwide, non-profit, Evangelical Christian organization. YoungLife consists of many branches of ministry , but most commonly the name "YoungLife" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school students...
.