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At noon on Friday, May 29th,
several people came out to welcome new owners of a long-standing
Lincoln Business, Lincoln Heating and Cooling, to the business
community.
Tommy and Ashley Gleason recently
purchased the business from retiring owner Marion Goff.
The day began with a ribbon cutting in
front of the Lincoln Heating and Cooling sign, where it was noted
that the business would be changing its name slightly from Heating
and Cooling to Heating and Air.
Tommy, Ashley and sons Jack and Connor
were front and center behind the ribbon and joined by Marion and
Rita Goff, son Randy and daughter Lori Langley, Tommy’s parents Tom
and Roxy Gleason, Ashley’s parents Rick and Kathy Mathias.
Also behind the ribbon were Lincoln Ward Three Alderman Dennis
Clemmons, with Lincoln City Clerk Peggy Bateman and Lincoln Daily
News’ Karen Castelein holding the ribbon.
The event began with emcee Nila Smith thanking everyone for coming
out and acknowledging the Gleasons and the Goffs. She noted that
Marion has been the long-time owner of the business but is now
retiring and preparing to start a new chapter in his life.
She invited Marion to address the
crowd. A man of few words, he said that he was happy to see Tommy
take on the business and continue offering excellent HVAC services
to the people of Logan County.
Clemmons was asked to speak on behalf of the city, and he welcomed
the Gleasons as new business owners and said that it was good to see
a business continuing on with a new generation rather than
shuttering its doors.
Tommy was then invited to speak. He
said that he appreciated the support of the community and was
looking forward to owning a business in Lincoln.
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With the speeches concluded, the group
posed for a photo, then with the help of all those in attendance,
the traditional three-two-one-snip was called out, and Tommy and
Ashley snipped the ribbon on their new business.
Prior to the ribbon cutting event, LDN had met with Gleason to talk
about his decision to purchase the business.
Gleason explained that he had other jobs leading up to his ownership
of Lincoln Cooling and Air, including working for a time on a river
barge. He said that work was okay, he was on the barge for a month
at a time, then had extended time off between. He said during that
time, he met Ashley. He said that it was somewhat of an accidental
meeting for which he credits his mom Roxy.
Then, one day on the barge, he witnessed a fatal lightning that took
the life of a co-worker. He said that gave him pause. He was
thinking about a future with Ashley and the incident caused him to
realize that life could be short, and he didn’t want to spend it on
a barge.
Gleason went to work for Lincoln Heating and Cooling. He liked the
work and he liked his employer and could see a future for himself
with the business.
Gleason said it was like he had found his niche. And it made sense.
He said that this type of work “feeds my soul and keeps my mind busy
figuring it all out.” As a kid he enjoyed all things mechanical,
always figuring out how things worked. He noted, “Maybe even then, I
was prepping for this work.”
After a couple of years, he spoke with Goff about the future and his
plans for retirement. Gleason said Goff wasn’t yet ready to retire
and didn’t know what he would do with the business when he did.
Gleason said he wanted an opportunity to advance his career and at
that time, he wasn’t sure that he would be able to do so with Goff.
In 2022, Gleason took a job with another HVAC business. He said that
moving to a new HVAC business was good for him, in that he did learn
more of the management side and came to better understand how such a
business has to operate to be successful.
Then, earlier this year, Gleason got a call from Goff’s son-in-law
Dan Langeley. He told Gleason that Goff was ready to retire and he
wanted to sell the business.
Gleason said it was all falling into place, and he and Ashley knew
that it was the right move for them and their future.
Gleason said that he currently has two employees, Jimmy Babbs and
Troy Meinershagen, and Ashley, who is employed by Memorial Health
Systems, helps out some of the time in the office. Gleason can see a
time when Ashley will be more involved with the business. He also
hopes that as time goes by, his two boys will develop an interest in
the business and become part of the big picture.
Lincoln heating and Air is located at 1716 Tremont Street in
Lincoln. The business is open five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and offers a 24/7 after hour emergency service.
To reach Lincoln Heating and Air call 217-735-5835.
[Nila Smith]
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