Storied past leads to new chapter for Fogle Pump

Rod and Sue Fogle

By Don Birch

Open house May 12-13

for new headquarters

Fogle Pump & Supply, Inc. is celebrating their 36th anniversary during the month of May at their new 10,000 sq. ft. building located one mile northwest of Colville along Highway 395.

"It's with great pride and sense of accomplishment that we show off our new facility to our customers with a special month-long sale," stated Rod Fogle, owner. "We are offering tours of our new building which includes a working display highlighting some of our products."

A variety of prizes will be given away during the open house, including a flat screen television, a Bluetooth radio shower head, outdoor barbecue, $100 gift card, and the grand prize, a Softmax #JM920-TM water conditioner valued at $1,895. Hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and drinks will be offered both days between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Factory representatives will also be on hand during the event.

The era of Fogle Pump & Supply began in 1981 when Rod and Sue Fogle purchased Bargain Warehouse from Harold Rotter.  Rotter's business featured plumbing products, pumps and logging supplies.  Rotter took over the business from Bill Parrott, his former father-in-law.  Parrott was known in the community as "Bargain Bill", and carried that title throughout his career when he purchased a similar business in Spokane.  Bargain Warehouse had served this area since 1946.

Fogle decided his career to be in the well drilling industry, but not before struggling with life at an early age.  "I was like a lost child--I didn't know what I wanted to do," Fogle remembered. Rod tried college to find his way. "It took me two years, and five different colleges, before I figured out college wasn't meant to be for me."

Rod's life changed drastically in 1974 when his parents, Bob and June Fogle died in an airplane accident on June 3 near Castle Rock, WA. They were with Jerry McMillan and wife Emiko. McMillan was creator and president of Colmac Industries.

"There were the four of us who all of a sudden had to learn how to deal with the loss of our parents, and how to go on with life and become successful," Rod continued. "My sister Julie was the oldest, just graduating from high school. I was in my junior year. Steve and Wendy were youngest in the family."

Family was in the car industry  

The Fogle family was well-known and respected in the Colville community. Ott Fogle, Rod's grandfather, was owner of Fogle Motor Company. Rod's father had joined the business and took over ownership of the dealership when Ott retired.

"I grew up always wanting to follow in my father's and grandfather's footprints. But I was too young when my parents were killed. My grandfather was too old to assume the chores of keeping the business going," Rod explained. "So Rainier Bank took over the running the dealership. The bank made the decision to sell the dealership which had just moved to the present location (now Country Chevrolet). The Ford dealership was purchased by Al Sherman of Spokane".

The new Colville building

It's history, but hard to believe

The Fogle dealership was just one of several car dealerships in Colville early on. It's hard to imagine that a town with less than 3,000 people could support 12 different car dealers, but during the 1950's, that was the case.

For history buffs, the list of dealers, including Fogle Motors, who sold Fords, Cadillacs, Pontiacs, Studebakers and Packards, were: Harms Motor Co. (Buick); White & Blessing Motor Co. (Oldsmobile); Laird Chevrolet Co. (Chevrolet); Cole Motors (DeSoto, Plymouth); Dallas Garage (Dodge, Plymouth); Wendle Bros. Motor Co. (Ford); Eldon Carter Motors (Nash Rambler, Metropolitan); Bronsons Implement (Parkard); Dominion Motors (Hudson); Jefferson-Thompson Motors (Mercury); and Lynn Farm Supply (Kaiser Frazer, Willys).

There were also 27 different service stations where customers could purchase gas and get vehicles serviced.

"After giving college a try, I found a job during the summer months managing the Northport Race Track," Fogle stated. "A short time later, I got my start in well drilling when I was hired by K.C. Kane, owner of K.C. Kane Well Drilling. K.C. taught me the business."

Rod and Sue were married in 1978. At the time, Sue was employed at Mount Carmel Hospital. "I was on maternity leave when we purchased Bargain Warehouse in 1981," Sue related. "All at once we had a new baby and a new business."

Tasha was the first born. Three more children joined the family including Alaina, Elizabeth and Robert.  Robert is presently employed at Fogle Pump, Spokane branch (Airway Heights purchased in 1995). There is a third store in Republic.

Rod and Sue have always agreed on one thing raising their children. "When they were old enough, we always encouraged our kids to move away from Colville; then if they wanted to come back, it would be because they wanted to come back," Sue explained. Tasha and Elizabeth live in Colorado Springs; Alaina in Tacoma, and Robert in Spokane. The Fogle's have five grandchildren, "and two grand dogs and one grand cat," Sue chuckled.

Rod decided to get back into the car business in June 1990. "I was always a Ford man because my father and grandfather were Ford men," Fogle said. "But I got a call from General Motors asking me to take on the Chevy line. I decided to give it a try, but not before approaching Dave LaDuke to become my partner.  Together, we opened LaDuke & Fogle Motors. We also went into partnership at LaDuke and Fogle Equipment," he added. Fogle has since sold his interest in the dealership to Tony Booth. The store is now under the name of Country Chevrolet-Buick.

Community involvement

Owning two major businesses in four different locations, doesn't mean the Fogles spend all their time worrying about the day-to-day grind. "We have always said if you are going to own a business, you should get involved with the community in which you serve," Fogle stated. That's exactly what Rod and Sue have done.

"I have several civic projects near and dear to my heart," Rod related. Probably the one Rod cared most about was the re-location of the cross on Colville Mountain. The cross is the most iconic symbol which overlooks the Colville Valley.

It was when two individuals contacted the ACLU to complain that the Colville cross was located on city land, a violation of church and state. The ACLU sent the city of Colville a letter suggesting they remove or move the cross to another location, or face a lawsuit.

"I did some research and found that an individual owned property adjacent to the city property," Fogle said.  "I contacted the owner of the property to see if I could purchase the property--and I did."  

Ken Macomber headed the project with a group of local businesses and individuals to re-construct a bigger and stronger cross just a short distance from its original location.

"I remember most the candlelight vigil held at the cross after 9-11. Everyone could see the illumination--it was so cool," Sue added.

Another project Rod played a major role in was "Colville 2000", which he chaired. The project included the construction of the two round-abouts, one at each end of town. Colville 2000 was accomplished through the hard work and determination of a group of many, including the late John Acorn. "John worked hard, and I feel good about how these round-abouts have turned out to be. I feel they have helped the traffic flow in Colville. At first I was worried it might hurt the business community on Main Street, but I think everything has turned out okay," Fogle said.

Fogle was also involved in the clock project located at Main and Astor in downtown Colville.  The clock and sculptures were created by Chris Anderson. Fogle, Macomber and Acorn did the major fund-raising for the project.

Sue has also donated her time to the community. She served on the Colville School Board for 11 years, served as a director for the Mount Carmel Hospital Foundation Board and has been a volunteer Red Cross worker for many years.  

The Fogles are also big supporters of conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Safari Club, and Wild Turkey Foundation. They are also avid hunters. "I am a better shot the he is," Sue bragged humorously.

EOD fundraiser

Sadly, but honorably, the Fogle's are involved with a more meaningful project: the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Warrior Foundation. It was created by a small group of individuals who support each other after the loss of a loved one, or one who was injured in the fight against Alejada, the Taliban and ISIS.

Tasha's husband, Nick Sprovtsoff  was an EOD technician. He was killed in Afghanistan by an explosive device while serving with the Marines. She has become a board director for EOD Warrior Foundation which carries the commitment of raising funds for the organization to benefit families affected by the war.

Each director is responsible for raising at least $5,000 for the foundation. Last September, Tasha, with the support from her family, held a golf tournament and auction at the Chewelah Country Club. With the backing of her parents, Tasha was able to raise over $60,000 during the event, which the family said was a tribute to the commitment by northeast Washingtonians to the EOD cause.

"Tasha's family has truly also benefitted from being a part of the organization," Sue noted.

One of the featured items auctioned at the Chewelah event last year was a sculpture of an EOD warrior created by well-known sculpturist Jerry McKellar, a former Colville dentist. The Fogle family still has several McKellar sculptures planned for future events. McKellar will have some of his work on display at the Fogle Pump open house.

Another feature at the open house will be the work of artist Webb Keller, a former Army EOD survivor.  He will have handmade pictures on display during the two-day event. The EOD Warrior Foundation will continue to have fund-raising events across the country to support families affected. "It is my feeling that our own government could do more to support the EOD cause," Fogle added.

Fogle Pump & Supply has a special parking lane in front of their store specifically for veterans. They also fly an "Honor and Remember flag" in front of their Colville store.    

Rod and Sue Fogle display sculptures created by Jerry McKeller. The sculptures will be donated to fund-raising events to help the EOD Warrior Foundation.

The Spokane location