Penn Emblem’s Southeast Territory Sales Manager, Tom Higgins, retires after 36 years – Son, Patrick, to carry on legacy at Penn
Penn Emblem’s Southeast Territory Manager, Tom Higgins, retired at the end of 2024. It isn’t often that a company gets to celebrate an employee’s successful career of over thirty-six years and it’s even more rare to have their accomplished career become generational, carrying timeless knowledge into the next era with family.
Tom went to work in a liquor wholesale business straight out of the University of Georgia. He realized quickly that it wasn’t the right fit for him, so he consulted his father for help. Tom Higgins Sr. brought a twenty-something Tom to the Clean Show in Atlanta where he was introduced to Bob Henslin, the Southeastern Penn Emblem rep at that time, who later exposed Tom to the world of industrial laundry and the Penn Emblem team.
Call it good timing or fate, but Bob was nearing retirement when Tom started working at Penn Emblem as his protégé. Tom began working the Central South territory which eventually turned into the entire Southeast. He worked with everyone from small laundry companies to large corporations over the next thirty-six years, developing life-long friendships and relationships with customers. Tom enjoyed seeing his customers progress from stockroom positions to general managers and beyond over the years.
Throughout the years, Tom’s children enjoyed trying to disrupt their dad while he was on the phone. His son, Patrick, was always the most inquisitive, asking questions and wondering who was on the other side of his dad’s phone calls. After studying logistics and business in college, Patrick worked for five years until Tom began thinking about his own retirement and wondered if Patrick would be up for the challenge. Patrick expressed interest immediately. In fact, Patrick reminded Tom about the phone calls that he used to try and interrupt. He said, “Dad, you always sounded like you were talking to friends. That’s what I always wanted to do.”
Patrick knew that he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps. Growing up, Patrick watched his father provide for his family through Penn Emblem. Being recently married, himself, he is excited to do the same for his future family. “When dad approached me about the opportunity at Penn, I knew I had subconsciously been preparing my whole life for this,” he says, “even though it was intimidating to step into shoes that he had worn for over three decades.”
After going through the interview process, Patrick’s first few months of his new position with Penn Emblem would also serve as Tom’s final few months, spending them training his replacement. Tom proudly travelled to customers with Patrick by his side, taught terminology, and shared experiences. “It’s not something that many men get to do”, Tom says, “and I was so grateful for it.” Now, Tom gets to watch as his son continues to develop and grow the business for himself and Penn Emblem.
“It’s not just a job, but a legacy Tom Higgins is leaving behind. It’s an honor to be walking that same path,” says Patrick Higgins.
Penn Emblem Company is beyond grateful to have had thirty-six incredible years with Tom and equally grateful to have Patrick to carry the torch.
