In July of 1983, Larry Jenkins started driving a cab for St. Louis County Cab Company. It took him about a week to decide that this was the place that he wanted to be. So, after having driven at County Cab for 3 weeks, Larry asked to put his own car on the fleet and to become a cab owner/operator. Just like that, Larry Jenkins became the first minority cab owner/operator in County Cab’s fleet.
Over the past 32 years, Larry has built an extremely successful business as a cab owner/operator in St. Louis. When you ask him about it, he gets very emotional recounting the things that he has accomplished in his life. But, he will tell you that his greatest accomplishment in life has been his family. Larry has been married to his wife Carol for 40 years. He has 3 children and 4 grandchildren, all of whom make him light up with pride. One of his daughters, Christy, worked her way through college at Washington University as an agent in the Care Center at County Cab. She is now a nurse educator. His son, Rosethnu, played wide receiver for the Mizzou football team and his daughter, Erin, graduated from UM-St. Louis and works at United Health Care. Anyone who knows Larry knows how proud he is of being a cab driver with St. Louis County Cab Company.
Larry & His New Cab
As Larry puts into service the 8th cab of his career, we want to recognize him for being an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, cab driver and representative of County Cab!
Jerry and Norma Jean Hanks with County Cab President, Basil Rudawsky
Over 50 years ago, while serving as a young man in the United States Air Force in New Mexico, Jerry Hanks met a young lady whom he married a short time later. Over the past 51 years of marriage, Jerry and Norma Jean Hanks have built a lifetime of memories together. For Jerry, the proudest of those memories are the 9 children that they raised. 43 of those 51 years, Jerry spent driving a cab with us. Jerry has decided to hang up his cab keys and retire. They have decided to return to Norma Jean’s home state of New Mexico. They plan to spend their time with family, friends and relaxing.
Jerry is a warm, friendly character who is always quick with a smile and to say something nice. He tells many fond stories of his 43 years as a driver. What Jerry remembers most fondly are the people: the customers, his fellow drivers and the Gregerson family. During his 43 years driving a cab, Jerry Hanks logged over 2 million miles with an impeccable safety record that he is extremely proud of. The calls that we’ve received through the years about Jerry all reflect the strong, ethical, and dignified man that we know and respect.
Today, we celebrate Jerry’s retirement along with his and Norma Jean’s return to New Mexico. While we will miss Jerry’s professionalism and his warm and friendly demeanor, we wish him a happy, healthy and relaxing retirement. Let someone else drive now, Jerry!
Kamar Harleem being congratulated by Mayor Francis Slay for representing St. Louis with class, dignity and professionalism as a taxi driver with St. Louis County Cab Company.
The definition of hero, a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities, applies to both men who have been selected to receive the honor of Hospitality Hero by Explore St. Louis. Kamar Harleem and Admir Smajic were chosen for separate acts of heroism that each of them performed in service to the community. We, at St. Louis County Cab, congratulate and honor Kamar and Admir for being outstanding gentlemen and taxi drivers.
Kamar Harleem was chosen for his life-saving act of heroism on January 13, 2016. As was told to us by a passenger and long-time customer, Kamar spotted a young man lying behind a vehicle next to the road. Recognizing that there was a person in distress, Kamar calmly but quickly turned around and returned to the person in need. The young man was in the midst of a seizure which was brought on by a serious medical condition for which he was being treated. Kamar’s ability to remain calm and make the right decisions at every critical turn allowed for emergency treatment to be south, provided and to end this story in a positive way. When asked about these events, Kamar hesitated to describe his involvement. He didn’t want this recognition for what he did. He did it simply because it was the right thing to do and he was in the position to do what was right when it was needed. For this, Kamar Harleem is a 2016 Hospitality Hero as chosen by Explore St. Louis.
Kamar Harleem is a proud Hospitality Hero!
Admir was chosen Hospitality Hero for a less dramatic but no less heroic event in January. This event is best described by the customer who submitted it to us: “Please thank driver Admir of Cab #626 for driving us home from St. Clair Hospital today (1/9/16, 11:00 a.m.) during the brief but ugly snow squall. My husband was discharged from the hospital with a heavily-bandaged, non-weight- bearing foot following serious surgery. In fact the trip began by keeping Admir waiting outside while the nurses finished their work and brought us down. Sorry for the delay! Our driveway is short but very steep and slick when it snows. Admir was able to back his vehicle part way up, and then pushed my husband’s wheelchair up-hill through the extremely slippery snow and slush into the dry garage. This took strength and determination, and he was also concerned for my safety as I made my way on foot. Finally, he saw us safely up a short flight of stairs into the kitchen and made sure that my husband was seated in a chair. Truly this was not just courteous, it was heroic! Please let him know what an important role he played in our lives today.” Most sincerely, Cathy (age 68) and Thomas (age 67), Grateful Passengers
Heroism takes on many forms in our lives. Sometimes it is a dramatic act during extraordinary circumstances. Most often, heroism is an extraordinary act during non-dramatic circumstances. What remains consistent is that heroes exist everywhere and in every occupation. Kamar and Admir, you were both heroes to people in a time of need. You make yourselves, your families, us and your industry proud!
