Mr. Write's Page

In November 1979, I took a job as a copywriter in the Advertising Department at Lithonia Lighting in Conyers, Georgia.

Back then, I was an experienced writer in my mid-30s, but my background was in advertising agencies and government. I had never worked for a large corporation. A business environment would be a new experience for me.

On my first day, I reported to the department head, a feisty Irishman named Don. He took me around the office to make introductions.

First on the list was the Art Director, Larry, Don’s second in command.

I don’t recall what Larry said when we were introduced, but I remember noting with surprise that he was good-natured, high-spirited, and a really funny guy.

That was all wrong. The art directors I had known were not casual, happy, and friendly. They were slave drivers and hatchet men for the bosses. I remember thinking, This guy is the Art Director?

As I would discover, he was a fine one. But at the time, I was only an hour into my first day.

Before long, Don summoned a few of us to a meeting. We filed into the conference room and took seats at the table. Larry sat directly across from me. Next to him sat Amelia, the number one graphic designer.

Don started the meeting, and I, naturally, tried to appear attentive and professional.

This was not an easy task, because under the conference table, someone’s toe was slowly, delicately, sensually stroking my leg.

Now, I didn’t know Larry, and I didn’t know Amelia. But I knew that one of them was trying to communicate with me.

Was it Amelia, a confident, attractive married woman?

Was it Larry? He DID say he was married, didn’t he?

I’ve always heard that if you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything. So nothing is what I did. I remained stone-faced…

… until finally, Larry broke out laughing.

I worked with Larry for the next 25 years. I watched countless times as he subjected others, and occasionally me, to the Toe Test and much more.

Somehow, in all that time, his antics never wore thin.

He even changed my opinion of art directors.