b'THE COMSTAR SUPPLY STORYA Tough GoodbyeAfter 10 years of remission from his cancer, EarlChad explains, In 2006, the cancer was back, and he fought it again. Radiation. Chemotherapy. We had was optimistic about the companys growth and a hospital bed in the living room of his home. My mom had retired and put all of her energy into caring his own future. But he soon discovered that hisfor him during the day. For about nine months, I would sleep on the couch to administer his chemo cancer had returned, and this time it had spread. meds and monitor him through the night. At that time, my wife Kelly and I had a newborn, and Ibasically never made it home between work and taking care of my dad. I dont know how we allIt was the summer of 2005, and Comstar was in did it . . . but we did it all for him.the middle of construction of its first stand-aloneIt eventually came time to tell employees and customers that Earl was terminally ill. Chad remembers building and yard in Collegeville, PA. Unfortunately,gathering all the employees together in the foyer of the new building he and his dad had built andhis time at their new offices would be short lived. telling them that Earl was fighting, but the prognosis was not good. After two years of that valiant fight, Earl passed away.The response to his death was immediate. The outreach from customers, friends, and family wasoverwhelming. Chad says he never saw so many people show such respect, nor heard so manygood things said in support of his family, specifically his dad, as he did at that time.I just remember being overwhelmed during the receiving line, he recalls. It was about three hours for the viewing. The church for his funeral was packed. I still remember looking over the congregation that gathered there and thinking about how many people cared for him and our family. It felt like the culmination of his purpose: do no harm and leave a place better than you found it.2004Northeast sales expansion; gained large carrier customer, which changed the trajectory of the business. Was initially underground and tooling, and the new contract moved company to more aerial products.14THE COMSTAR SUPPLY STORY'