A Deep Impact on the Industry
The class also had a deep impact on the industry. Con and Bruce put an emphasis on ethics and proper business practices. An entire generation of manufactured housing professionals were exposed to the right way to do business.
Con had had his share of health problems in recent years but he stayed as active as he could. He had gone for a walk when he fell and hit his head. He never regained consciousness and died a few hours later.
Mr. Eargle’s father was a train engineer but the family lived in very modest circumstances. His father died when the children were very young.
Con served in the Air Force from 1961 to 1965. He was an electronics warfare officer on B-52s and took part in Operation Rolling Thunder during the early years of Vietnam. His service is an important part of his life. He will be interred with military honors.
He worked as a producer for WIS-TV and won a Peabody, the national award for quality television programming. He was a wine expert and could conduct a very informative beverage tasting session.
Mr. Eargle was pre-deceased by his wife Christine. His son Jeff lives in Columbia and is on the faculty at USC.
Con was introduced to the MH industry while working for a company that was a major lender for Clayton Homes. He and Bruce Kelly first worked together at the Mascot Homes retail center in West Columbia. They both served as Midlands Chapter Officers. They had a total of over 50 years of retail experience when they partnered to open the SC Manufactured Home Academy. They had plenty of interesting stories to tell about earlier days in the industry.
“I’m blind and Bruce can’t hear, so together we added up to one instructor.”
Con appreciated people who had a good sense of humor and had an endearing way of repeating the punchline when he liked someone’s quip.
The two enjoyed teaching the class but around 2019 they recognized it was time to retire. Con put it this way, “I’m blind and Bruce can’t hear, so together we added up to one instructor.”
Con and his partner were keen to find a successor who would preserve the quality and emphasis on ethics that was central to the course. They found that person in Joanne Polston who took over the class in 2020 when they retired. The two took pains to give Joanne all the material and assistance she needed to launch a good program. They co-taught the class with her as she learned the ropes.
After Con and Bruce retired I started joining them and Bruce’s wife Mary for lunch. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to enjoy Con’s humor and good-natured kindness right up until the end of his successful and productive life.
Arrangements
Mr. Eargle will be interred with military honors at Fort Jackson in Columbia. The service will probably be held in September. MHISC will post details when a date is set.