John Ramsey example essay topic

He met Patsy in 1979 and considered her his "Jackie Kennedy". At the time, he was divorced and failing in business. A year later, he married her. A year later, her father bailed him out of the failing business. That business, too, failed but apparently Don Paugh bailed him out again. This time, the company flourished.

This time, the company merged and John became part of a bigger company, not his "own man". He was on his way to the big corporate structure he'd wanted to join in 1973 when he failed to make it with AT&T. Once he was there, success came rapidly. The man who couldn't make it on his own flourished once he hooked up with other people. Don Paugh was proud of the new company, calling it the "Cadillac and Lincoln" of the industry. Paugh was clearly an important part of the company, as far as John was concerned. Paugh always had work there and lived in Boulder away from his own family, as did John.

Patsy and her mother and sisters were apparently a drag on the company. Nedra, Pam and Polly were dumped and Patsy, a proven advertising manager (work she was doing when John met her), was kept out. Granted, Patsy was pregnant twice and had cancer. Granted also that she may not have wanted to work at Access Graphics (although she did at Micro South).

She did, however, have nannies and she did supervise redecorating houses and Access Graphics offices, organize company luncheons (at least one of which was a major $30,000 production). She was instrumental in local charities and schools. She obviously had the skills and desire to work. Ironically, Patsy functioned successfully on her own, managing two pregnancies and cancer, major house renovations and other projects. She was acknowledged as being very good at organizing people and events. John, however, was essentially a failure when he was on his own.

(I use the word "failure" in view of the Ramseys' own expressed point of view; money is obviously very important to them both. Many thousands of people are successful in their own small businesses, doing no better than John did with his. That is one difference I see in the Ramseys and the majority of people. It's not a bad difference, just one.) John was well-educated (arguably better educated than Patsy), had good credentials and background.

He was a nice guy with a quiet demeanor that didn't fit in with the highly competitive management environment of major corporations, such as AT&T. John was quoted, after becoming successful with Access Graphics, as saying he would be comfortable living in a log cabin with little money. His background seems to confirm that. In terms of financial success, the Paughs were a great influence on John Ramsey. Nedra and Patsy have obvious and vital ambition toward recognition on the world stage.

John seemed to be satisfied being well-liked and successful in his own little world. The Paughs influenced him, apparently, to strive for more. Don Paugh financed him and followed him to the big company in the new city. Patsy made sure the city of Boulder knew who the Ramseys were (although probably only people who cared about Access Graphics, parties and pageants really knew about them). But look what happened once John reached a peak: -- He became part of the cutthroat business world -- He drove people out who didn't please him or didn't produce, in his view -- His company far exceeded the company that gave him his chance It's possible that John was embarrassed by her flamboyance, and yet was charmed at the same time.

It's possible that Patsy was angered by his lack of flamboyance, yet comforted by his solid personality. This couple had been married for 11 years before the big money came to them (Access was probably bringing in a good income prior to the acquisition by CalComp / Lockheed but certainly not in the millions of dollars). Their relationship would have been well established by then. The influx of $8 million dollars plus must have had a serious impact on them, and not just in terms of what they could purchase. Suddenly, with good legal representation, either could live quite well without the other in case of divorce. As Patsy herself said recently, "The almighty dollar does strange things to people".

... These people's lives changed dramatically when the "almighty dollar" came into their lives. John stayed up late with a calculator in bed working out finances. Patsy traveled around with a six-year-old girl made up to look like a 20-year-old Las Vegas showgirl.

Then -- wham! The end of 1996 was the end of that. John spent his money on lawyers and Patsy lost her showgirl. "Life in Boulder" by J.A. Ramsey "The Smell of Swamp Upon Me" by Susan Bennett "I Smelt a Skank" by Don Foster.