My guest today is Bob Nardelli, former CEO of Home Depot, former CEO of Chrysler, and currently CEO of Cerberus Capital Management. How you doing?
I'm great, Gordy. Good to be here.
Gotcha. Finally, I was going through my correspondence, Nardelli, and I've been trying to get you on this show for seven years.
And I offered, if you recall, one of the letters, I offered to go to you. And I said, preferably that would be like in Paris or Florence. And you said, 'No, I'm going to get you to Detroit in the dead of winter if you're really concerned, really dedicated about doing this.' So.
That's right. That's right. I remember that.
Hey, born what? May 17th, 1948.
So, you were a youthful 63-year-old.
63 years old and counting.
Good. And you're here. Why are you here this weekend?
Well, we came back to celebrate homecoming. It's been 40 years and we were communicating back and forth with some of the team, you know, Bob Micah and some of the others, and they said they were going to come down. So Sue and I decided to come down. We just got here a few hours ago and looking forward to it.
It's yeah we're having the football reunion. All the former players from well from the Daryl Mudra, Brody Weston, Bill Shanahan, and Pete Rodriguez years. So that's what 69 to 82. So there's a heck of a lot of great players coming back. And the thing that has impressed me the most, and I had a lot of these guys in class, is these guys have gone out and carved out very fine careers. They've, you know, there must be something that happens, maybe you can answer the question, something that happens on that gridiron or on the basketball court or on the baseball field or the volleyball court or wherever with athletes that gives them focus or direction or concentration to help make them successful. You got any insights on that?
Absolutely. I think you're spot on. First of all, it was great to see the coaches. I mean, some of my greatest memories are here at Western and I think it was clearly the environment here, the curriculum, playing on the team that was very formative in my background. I think playing a team sport teaches you all kinds of things about yourself, about other people depending on you, you depending on them. I think it's a great foundation for me certainly as I went on to really be fortunate to have some great opportunities in my career and many of the other graduates and many of the teammates I had the good fortune of playing with have gone on to do great things. So absolutely I think playing a sport at the collegiate level, certainly the environment here that fostered great core curriculum but also that collegiate competitiveness, something I talk a lot about not only on the field but I was able to carry that through most of my career.
You are not an Illinois native. You were raised in first to what 16, 17 years in Pennsylvania.
Yeah I was originally born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. Just a little coal mining town outside of Scranton and my dad came back from World War II and reestablished himself, worked very hard, very hard working family, very modest family. Gordy, if I wasn't fortunate enough to get a scholarship here and work at Saga Foods at the same time I'm not sure where I would have ended up so it was great for me.
What'd your dad do for a living?
My dad worked at General Electric, came back out of World War II, he went to OCS school, came out of the military as a captain. I was very proud of him. He and my mom got married just before he was shipped out and he worked his way with successive improvements and opportunities throughout his career.
My mom was the ultimate housekeeper and doted over my older brother and myself continuously. So I was very, very fortunate to have a great family network.
What did you, what kind of life lessons did you learn from your mom and dad to be the extraordinary leader that you become today?
Well, I think I learned a lot from both of them and you know a lot about hard work, a lot about responsibility and accountability. You know understanding that you have to have good values, high integrity. So, I was very fortunate to have a great set of parents.
That's quite a plateful of attributes from your parents.
Yeah, they were very special.
And you've got an older, you said you have an older brother.
I have an older brother, Ry. And he was bigger than me. He got all the size. Played at Purdue. Played with Bob Griese. Went to the Rose Bowl, graduated as a civil engineer and you know worked pipelines, natural gas and he's retired now in Houston enjoying himself.
You would probably know the former alumni director at Purdue who would be about, he'd be actually just shy of 70, but Larry Prio and he played football against I believe Budkus and some of those guys at Illinois. So some pretty tough, pretty tough, pretty tough ball.
Did you guys get along growing up?
We got along great. You know he was a great mentor to me. I was a freshman, he was a senior in Rockford, Illinois. We played at Rockford Auburn. They had a great phenomenal football team. Coach Venturi, you probably recognize the name. His son went on to coach a pro NFL team in Baltimore. And so it was great. It was a great system. Again, I had the benefit of playing for Coach Zafodil, who was also an alumni, very close to Danny Wascavich. And again, if it wasn't for those two gentlemen, I wouldn't be here as an alumni 40 years, 40 years ago.
I will give some kudos to Wascavich. I'm not so sure. Danny, I believe he lost Danny. I think he passed away. Tough, tough end. But Bill was a great coach for me, a great mentor, supporter, and I really enjoyed playing for him.
What was it like growing up in Pennsylvania?
Well, I left at an early age, and then we spent some time in Louisville as I was growing up and then went to Rockford and then Sue and I have moved probably over a dozen times over the last 40 years, which is, you know, it's had its goods and its bads.
You did play some sports then in high school.
I did. I played football, track, did a lot of weightlifting.
What did you do in track?
I did the disc and the shot put.
I think it was more about keeping in shape, getting ready for football. Gordy,
Were you a good student in high school?
I was okay. I was okay. I, you know, I wasn't, I had a great, you know, I enjoyed high school. I was again very active, editor of the yearbook, Quill and Scroll. You know had my own rock and roll band. So high school was really a lot of fun for me.
You talk about being the editor of the school and scroll. Talk about the importance today because I think it's lost on a lot of our young people today. The importance of being able to write in terms of communicating.
Tremendous. You know I think as I look back and I've again tried to learn a lot from the people I worked for and with. I guess a great example is Jack Welch who was unbelievably prolific and noted for his quick handwritten notes people would cherish when they would get that little note card, you know, great job, really appreciate what you're doing. Just quick handwritten notes. But I think being able to write and to communicate is fundamental for success in today's environment.
You know, I made a career out of writing those little notes. I don't know that they were treasured, but I made a career out of it. And I don't know that anybody could ever read what I wrote.
See, that's the difference, Gordy.
But they knew that there was something nice there.
That's the difference. Jack's penmanship was really good, and yours was fun.
Yeah. People have to come in and say, 'Help me out with Taylor's hieroglyphics.' And you know who has shouldn't be saying anything.
You know who has the most beautiful handwriting is Mortier. I mean, Larry Mortier. You get a, I mean just it's just beautiful. But he Catholic schools and they taught him that penmanship and method.
Yeah, absolutely. He's, it's just fabulous.
But you would expect that from Larry. He's a perfect guy.
Well, you know, let's just clear the air and get this out of the way because I just talked to the coaches about this. I've known the guy since 1966. I suppose you're about the same with football. He's as nice a guy as we think he is, isn't he?
He really is. He's one of the true gems in our world.
He is genuine right to the bone. And you know, we pledged together. We played ball together. We hung out together. I'm going to tell you a wonderful story. I was fortunate in my career to get the opportunity to go to a Super Bowl. And
I don't, no, I don't want to hear this story because I heard it from Larry. So, I had, I again had the opportunity to bring a guest. So, I rang Larry up and I said, 'Hey, Larry, would you like to go to the Super Bowl?'
And he thought like a Super Bowl party. And I said, 'No, no, the Super Bowl.' I heard him yell, 'Hey, Sandy, we're going to the Super Bowl.' It was like one of those TV commercials. Because I remember clearly I had called him. I said, 'Hey, we just got this new TV. You want to come over and watch the Super Bowl?' And he goes, 'I'm going to the Super Bowl.' And I, 'What do you mean you're going to the Super Bowl?' He goes, 'Well, Nardelli just called me.' And they had a fabulous weekend. We're in San Diego. Is that where it was? Yeah. They said he just had a great time.
Yeah. We picked him up, flew out. It was marvelous.
You said it was. You said it was. Well, he's coming in tonight. I think he'll be here tomorrow. And be great to see him.
How'd you end up here? Who recruited you?
Well, as I said, we moved from Louisville, Kentucky up to Rockford, Illinois, and was playing high school ball at Rockford Auburn under Coach Venturi. And Bill Zafodil was the offensive line coach. And I desperately wanted to go to college. I had the opportunity to visit several different schools including West Point. And fortunately Coach Zafodil was able to get me a couple of tryouts here with Danny and the other coach, Coach Duffel Meyer, and I was really blessed to be accepted and get a modest scholarship. As I said I worked at Saga Foods over at Bick's. Now the great thing about the job, I mean you don't think mopping floors and peeling potatoes is a very glamorous job but the highlight of that job got to meet my wife. She was living in Hiner and I spotted her from across the cafeteria and moved my way over there with the mop, you know, to try and impress her. And that's how we met and here we are 40 years later still married with four wonderful children.
Did I just lob you that softball? Cuz you just hit it out of the park. If you were in any trouble before this interview started, you're in good shape now.
And I do know her birthday. I know she told you that I don't, but I do know her birthday.
So you guys met, you were working in Bick's and she was in Hiner and you met there and Sue is, you played football with her brother.
Her brother. It was an interesting story there is I knew Tom first and then I got to meet Sue doing my evening mopping job. And then we were invited down to Belleville, Illinois. And you know back then Gordy and again you know how trends tend to cycle back then to really be mono-mono. There was a group of us from Rockford that shaved our heads. You might remember that. And so I was probably the first guy that Sue brought home to meet her dad that was really a guy's guy. Now she'll be upset with that story but really a guy's guy. And I, you know, I was good friends with her brother. And so it was really a wonderful, you know, Sue has great parents. Her dad has passed, but her mom and so I got to know the family and we became great friends and, you know, we still visit a lot today.
Tom Schmalbach. Is he coaching still or is he still coaching? Is he with Auggie or Augustana?
And he had a great career.
National champion. I mean, just a stellar career. His son had a stellar career there. I mean just fantastic. Sue's sister married an Auggie grad. Their one son is doing great playing football. It's kind of in the genes I guess.
And Tom and I unfortunately share a common ailment. He had what, throat?
Throat cancer. I had the base of tongue. But Sue and I were chatting. It's
He's doing well and you look great.
I'm feeling fine. Doing great. Doing very well.
Hey. So you have, you talk about four kids. Let's talk a little bit about that. Let's talk about them in order here. Let's talk about Christine first. She went, she's what? She's, is she the oldest?
She's the oldest one, daughter. She went to Denison and American University and then went to American and then worked on the hill for a while. Then went and got another graduate degree, taught early education, core curriculum, sciences, and then she's working on another degree, but very, very artistic. Gordy, all four of Sue and our children are very, very artistic.
Well, they really deep down inside, I have a real artistic flair. I mean, you saw that right as a pulling guard. I had a lot of art. No, they really got it from their mother, I think. Yeah, they really are very accomplished. I'm proud of all four of them. The three boys have a
Where's Christine living?
Now, let's talk about Rob. I mean, the guy's name Rob. I, what kind of, what's wrong with your family? And you has a grandson?
The third. You know, though I can say that to you because I'm Gordon Jr. and my son is Gordon the third, so I can joke with you a little bit about that.
There you go. I had no pressure. No pressure for me. They did it voluntarily, but it was, I was very honored. It was really an honor.
I bet you were. And his wife's name is
So Sue is, her days are totally consumed with the grandkids. Sue could care less about you. Once they have the grandchildren, you're finished. You're like what, maybe eighth on her list now of important people. When I get home on the weekends, I open the door. I'm not sure if I'm at Toys R Us or our home.
Michael lives in California, Los Angeles. Went to USC.
And he's got his own production company.
I give him a little plug. He's, one of his movies that he acted in and produced will be in theaters in November. And it's with, Another Happy Day and it's with Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Barkin, George Kennedy.
Yeah. So, and then he's got another one called Giant Mechanical Man that he produced and another one Grassroots he acted in and he'll be on CSI the end of November.
Yeah. Got his mother's looks and her skills.
That's good. That's good. I'm glad my kids all got their mother's looks. Hey, Timothy's the baby of the family.
Yep. Graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design and he's doing all of the animation and all of the graphic work for the production company.
I forgot to mention that Rob went to where? Siena.
Siena College when we were up in Albany, New York.
So how were the kids with all these moves?
Well, it was tough. I moved Christy her senior year.
Oh. In her going into her senior year.
Was that a tough decision?
Tough. Rob, we moved him three high schools. Mike, I moved him into his senior year and Tim, Tim was the only one that finished the high school he started at. So, it was very, very tough.
So, you're, I mean, you've had great success, which we'll talk about. There's no secret. You are our most recognizable alum. And that's, you should not, don't be modest. It's just the way it is. You're the most recognizable alum we have. But your family obviously paid a price for this success moving these kids. I mean, those of us who didn't do that can relate to that how tough that is on the kids. It is tough moving into your senior year, as you know, the cliques are already formed.
All the relationships and friendships are there.
But that was the challenging part. The good part, Gordy, I would say, is we're probably as close a family as you'll find. I mean, we never miss a family vacation every year. We're always together at Thanksgiving. We're always together at Christmas. Wherever they are, we all get back together. So, I'm kind of blessed, Sue and I are blessed that, you know, we were forced to be close and the kids are still very close to each other and to us. And so, that's the good part of the hardship of all those moves.
And where's Timmy living these days?
Tim is in Los Angeles also.
Okay. So, good. You got some good places to go visit. All right. So, what's your major here?
My major here was business.
It was business. And you graduated in 71. So, tough economic environment.
You didn't take me. I was teaching principles of management. You were probably already through there because I came back in 70, started teaching in September of 70.
I know. But you were one of the atras in the catalog. Like you were like the toughest.
I stayed away. I needed to graduate. Gordy.
Okay. So, where'd you live as a freshman? Were you in Bick's as a freshman?
I lived in Bick's. We were the first group to live in Bick's and Sue lived in Hiner. Back then we had curfews. They had curfews. They had to lock in or lock out, right?
And then my sophomore year I moved to a detached renovated garage and lived there for a while and then ultimately moved into another off-campus house.
Was he out there with Morty on Barcy? He was out there.
No, I didn't get into, that was probably too calm a setting for me.
So, you end up on the football team.
So, was Brock House still here, Billy? Did you ever have to go across? Did you ever have to line up against him?
Yeah. I mean, those were all maturing experiences. Boy, he was tough. He was
Oh, he was tough. And that's why we don't have the alumni game.
Because he hurt too many of the active players.
Yeah. I remember playing in a couple of alumni games and I think the, we were fortunate I think the only, and I won't name him but I think the only injury we had is somebody came from Waltz went in to get taped with Duke and fell off the table. So I think that was the only injury we had.
So here you are. You're on one guard, then Mortier at the center and Simon at the other guard.
You guys weren't very big.
No. Thank god I was fast.
You must have been tough.
Well, I don't know, Gordy. I, position. You're a guard. You're blocking.
It was, they just got bigger every year than I did. And seriously, I was very fortunate. Coach McMahon, again, I can't say enough good things about him.
Dying to see you. He's called me a couple times. He said, 'Was Nardelli, I know Bob's coming in. Mike is coming in. He's looking great stories.' I was telling Coach Mudra a story. We, and you reminded me painfully. I knew we lost, Gordy, but you didn't have to stick it in quite that hard.
Western Kentucky, close game, 1969.
