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Bandit Lites 40 at 40: Tim Foltz
Job Title: Lighting Technician (deceased)
Tim Foltz first started working for Bandit Lites in the warehouse, helping sweep the floors, empty garbage, etc. Due to a tragic car accident, Foltz was killed while employed at Bandit. Despite spending only a few short years at the company, Tim Foltz left a lasting impact on the employees that knew him. Here are a few questions we asked Bandit vice president, Mike Golden to get to know Tim Foltz a little better.
Q: How did Tim Foltz get involved with Bandit Lites?
A.:One day Tim walked into our warehouse, with no idea what we did, but looking for a job. He was around 17 years old, couldn't drive, and came from a very, very rough background. He hadn't finished high school and had no aspirations for college; he was simply looking for any job he could find. Tim was a great kid, but had never been given a break in his life, and when he was offered the opportunity, he embraced it. The company became his family and in turn, I think we were endeared to him, just because he was a special kid that needed support.
Q: Did his job evolve during the time he was at Bandit?
A: Tim started out sweeping floors, emptying garbage, loading trucks and just being that catchall guy. It quickly became apparent that he wanted to learn and grow, but most of all I think he wanted respect. Because of that desire and hard work, he earned the opportunity to be on an Alan Jackson tour and he gained the respect and appreciation of every person on that tour. He just really was a special kid.
Q: How did he pass away?
A: He was in a car wreck. Speculation has it that he had just dropped off his girlfriend at school and had some kind of seizure as he was driving to work. Since Tim's death, there has been a picture of him hanging outside our conference room with his Alan Jackson laminate draped around the frame and my mind still travels back whenever I see it. To me he's proof that anybody can do anything in this world. With his background, it would have been very easy for him to have lived a troubled life but he chose to come into our world and earn a little respect. I believe Tim was looking for a place to call home and I do think Bandit gave him that place. In turn, he repaid us by leaving a lasting mark on a lot of people.
Q: What makes him an important part of Bandit's history?
A: Every year Bandit Lites holds a companywide meeting and there is an award given out in honor of Tim called the ‘Tim Foltz' award. It is awarded to the person who has come the furthest. Michael Strickland always prefaces this award with the story of Tim because there are so many here that frankly don't know his story. Tim was someone we are very honored to have known and I think those that knew him learned a lot about life from him. We were blessed that he came into our world, because he taught us a lot about ourselves, our values and about life in general. If there was anybody that made the most of an opportunity and impacted on our hearts, I think it was Tim.
18th December 2008
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