The Glockner family said Monday afternoon that longtime
community businessman and activist Edward L. Glockner has
died at the age of 89.
Earning the nickname “Ebby” by an aunt when he was a child,
Glockner was the eldest son of Edward A. Glockner and Helen
Folz Glockner. Ebby was a World War II Navy pilot and then
attended Xavier University to earn degrees in accounting and
economics.
“He was a guy that just loved life. He got everything that life
could give, and he gave a lot of himself,” said Ebby’s son, Andy
Glockner.
Glockner’s great-grandfather Bernard Glockner came from
Baden, Germany, in 1847 and settled in Portsmouth. Several years later, Bernard opened a hardware store on Market Street in Portsmouth, which offered tractor and motorcycle sales in the back of the store. In 1912, Bernard’s son Alex (Ebby’s grandfather) purchased a Chevrolet franchise — one of the first in Ohio. Alex died in 1926 and passed his dealership to Ebby’s father.
Ebby entered the family automobile business in 1948 and took over entirely in 1952. He also reportedly formed a leasing company, a cable television company, an insurance company, a real estate holding company and a 17-state auto parts distributor. The Glockner business in 1982 did volume in excess of $45 million.
Ebby has been active in many local organizations, including the United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Rotary, Tour of Scioto River Valley (TOSRV), Trout Derby and the Scioto
County Democratic Party. Ebby was the 1952 Jaycee Man of the Year and 1971 Jaycee Citizen of the Year. He was one of only 65 automobile dealers in the United States given the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award in 1978, and he was given the Xavier University Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1979.
“He loved this area. He traveled and he told me ‘Andy, I’ve been around the world twice,’ and he said ‘I’ve been to some of the most beautiful places — Switzerland and Austria — and there’s nothing like coming home to the beautiful Appalachian hills of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky.’ He said ‘I’ve been around the world and you can’t find a more beautiful place with more beautiful people.’ He loved this place and he loved the people ” Andy Glockner said.
Andy Glockner succeeded his father in December 1982 as
president and CEO of Glockner Chevrolet-IH-GMC. Six years
later, Andy also succeeded his father on the Bank One Board of Directors.
Ebby died Monday morning at HillView Retirement Center in
Portsmouth. He is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church on Fifth and Market streets in Portsmouth, under the direction of F. C. Daehler Funeral Home.
A complete obituary is published in today’s Portsmouth Daily
Times.
Read more: Portsmouth Daily Times - ‘Ebby’ Glockner dies at 89
Uncle Ebb Glockner - A Good Old Boy
We first met Uncle Ebb years ago after our discharge from the U.S.A.F. in the early 70's. We had started a program called, "Kids For Christ Foundation" which my wife and I were head over hills involved. We worked with abused, neglected and needy
children. I was working at the S.O.C.F. and later as a
school bus driver for more than 13 years. In our spare time, we worked with the children. We didn't have much money to work with and the old car was on its last leg. We wore it out by going to their schools, juvenile court and etc.
We needed a car in the worst kind of way. I keep hearing this song on the radio, "Uncle Ebb Is A Good Old Boy" and I thought to myself, I just wonder how good he really was.
I went to his office to talk with him, and to tell you the truth I didn't think he would even see me, but to my surprise he did. I told him about our work and told him what we needed. A short time later I found out what kind of a Good Old Boy he really
was. He donated a car to help us in our work and after that, we became good friends. He went with us out to the old farm on Spradlin Rd. where we use to take the children for meetings and to play. The farm was dedicated to Roy Rogers.
We worked with the children for several years until we were no longer able to keep up with the program, but Uncle Ebb was always there for us.
One year during Christmas we were out of work and no money coming in, I don't know how he knew, unless the Lord told him, but we went to the mail box just before Christmas and we found a check from him. We had one of the best Christmases that year, thanks to Uncle Ebb.
Eight years ago we were tired of seeing the way fellow veterans and their families were being treated by our government and we started Veterans Helping Veterans & Others, Inc. Needless to say, the Glockner family was still there for us offering their support. They say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and how true it is. Andy Glockner, Uncle Ebb's son, has picked up where he left off.
He is one of the nicest young men you would ever want to meet. There will never be another Uncle Ebb, but as long as Andy is around his values and purpose in life will live on.
Though we are not related to the Glockner's, we have been involved with their family for many years. While driving the school bus, we use to transport Uncle Ebb's grandchildren to their football games and now here they are all grown up and managing a car dealership.
We're not the only ones being blessed because of Uncle Ebb. He has made the difference in the lives of many, many people. He will be missed, I for one will miss his warm smile and the firm hugs he use to give me. It didn't matter where I saw him, he always came up to give me a hug and smile.
Sometimes in life, no matter how old we are, there are times when we need a hug. When one of those times come my way all I have to do is close my eyes, think of Uncle Ebb and I can feel his big old bear hug he use to give me.
God bless you Uncle Ebb and God bless Andy and the
Glockner Family.
Uncle Ebb was a friend, a man who served his the country with honor, he was a comrade, a man who put bread on the tables of thousands, a man
who loved God in his own way and was blessed or his hard work and sharing it with others.
Edward Glockner, 89
He Was More Than A Good Old Boy!
