On Aug. 16th & 17th Bob and Lucille Fletcher celebrated their 44th Anniversary as Fletchers Harley Davidson, " The Biggest Little Dealership in Florida "

           Bob and Lucille opened Fletchers in 1964.  It was a small store.  As time went on  the Fletchers were able to move and expand their store and carry more  Harley Davidson merchandise and offer a larger assortment of Harley's, and a bigger service area for the bikes. Bob made his love for Harley Davidson motorcycles spread to a lot of people.

           Bob and Lucille had a lot of great adventures on two wheels. They traveled cross country in the heat, the cold and yes the rain.  Sometimes they would ride  3 up when they had one of their little girls on the bike with them . She would be right in the middle between Bob and Lucille. Bob also used to race motorcycles. Bob's attraction to motorcycles was passed down to his children and grand children !  

          Bob has written a book that was just released  called " The Life and Times of a Harley Davidson Enthusiast ". He shares some great things in the book. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the book yet so I won't tell you to much about what is in there, so you can enjoy reading it for yourself.  Bob had a book signing with his co writer Jack King at Fletchers 44th Anniversary celebration at Fletchers. I was lucky enough to be asked by Dick Pritchard to sit with Bob while he signed the books and give him a little helping hand with things.  I was amazed  that he remembered so many of the bikes people would tell him  about that they bought from him  back in the 60's . One man told Bob that Bob had sold him his first 1964 Sportster back in 1966. The bike was on consignment. Not only did Bob remember the bike , he told the man a little of the bikes history  from before he bought it from him. The man was thrilled . As a Christmas surprise the mans wife with out him knowing about it, asked Bob to write something special in her husbands book.

          So many people have come to know and love Bob and Lucille. I asked Bob if all those years ago when he was racing, riding here, there and every where, and later when he and Lucille were first starting out with the bike shop, did he ever think he would be were he is today.  He said Eilene for a while I thought I was in the wrong business. We are all glad he hung in there and  made " Fletchers The Biggest and Best Little Dealership in Florida "

        When we would have a little break in the book line Bob would tell me some funny stories about years back, but one story he told me I got the biggest charge out of. He told me that every day he would ride his bike to  work. In the morning when he left for work the sky would be clear the sun would be shinning it was beautiful but then when it was time to go home at six o'clock it would be raining really hard.  He said he wore his rain gear out putting it off and on. He said the thing he hated was the fact that his boots would fill up with water while he was riding . He would empty them out when he got home but they would still be wet in the morning so he had to wear wet boots. He said he got tired of the whole thing so he took a pair of old tennis shoes and he drilled holes in the bottoms so that when it would rain while he was riding the water would run out the bottom of his shoes instead of filling up with water !  I laughed and thought it was great that he was sharing so many fascinating things that he did with me. I could have sat  there all afternoon listening to him.

        Bob is 86 years young and still doing what he loves Riding his Harley. Bob and Lucille still get out there for a  ride in the wind now and then.   

        The chapter gave Bob and Lucille a beautiful cake for  their celebration of 44 years and still counting. We are proud to have the Fletchers for our chapter sponsors.

 

       Congratulations Bob and Lucille on your Anniversary and the release of Bob's book !!

                                Here's to 44 more happy years!

 Eilene