Memphis Ice: Where Everyone Feels Like Family— And Some Actually Are!

Bob bought Memphis Ice Machine Rental Company in 1984 and two years later, moved the entire business to a new location on Elvis Presley Boulevard.

In addition to a new location, he made two decisions that would change everything. One decision was a partnership with Ice-O-Matic, an ice machine company that had just released its first under-counter cube ice machine. The other, a decision to hire his first-born son, Bobby. Both were a gamble, but Bob had big plans for his little company and he was the type to roll the dice.

Rolling the dice proved uncertain one year later when the unthinkable happened. As Bob watched the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Minnesota Twins in the 1987 World Series, his building on Elvis Presley Boulevard was going up in flames. The fierce and fast fire destroyed the building and took all of the inventory and equipment with it.

What seemed like a terrible stroke of luck would end up proving lucky for the man who typically knew when to hold ’em, fold ’em, walk away and run. Being the visionary that he was, Bob had already purchased a plot of land near the Memphis Airport, but he hadn’t begun developing it yet.

Insurance came through in the clutch, but to stay afloat until the brand new building on Delp Street was ready, the Halfacres worked out of a half-burned structure for nine months.

It was in the summer of 1988 that the location you all know and love opened for business.

Clark joined the team in May 2011 and without him, his uncles would probably still be trying to understand email and GPS. Just kidding… We’ll give them a little more credit. Clark’s IT background enabled him to incorporate new technology, systems and processes to better position Memphis Ice Machine Company for the future.

And what kind of family business would this be if we didn’t recognize the extended family that formed as a result of their hard work, commitment and loyalty?

Most of the staff has been with the company for more than a decade and some much longer than that.

Tommy Snowden, a service technician, was one of the first employees. After high school, Tommy worked as a busboy at the Buckaroo Steakhouse where he worked his way up to a cook. He then sold parts for Shelby-Skipwith, a York equipment distributor. His best friend, Rick, got a job with Memphis Ice and recommended that Bob hire Tommy. He started in July 1977 and is now considered to be one of the very best technicians in the industry.

Alan Balsam, another service technician, joined Memphis Ice the same year as Bob’s son, Jeff, in 1983. That makes them brothers in business. Alan and Jeff have known one other since kindergarten and have been friends for more than 50 years. They spent their youth playing hide and seek, swimming and excelling in general mischief. They grew up across the street and attended the same school through high school. Alan’s father was a mechanic and Robert Halfacre recognized that Alan was also mechanically gifted. He, too, is now considered to be one of the best in the business.

Other staff members with more than a decade of service include:

• Jeffrey Fisher (Service Technician)
• Philip Futris (Sales Rep)
• Mark Hunsucker (Service Technician)
• Joe Phillips (Parts Manager)

It would be remiss to not recognize the team members who passed away after several years of service in our Memphis Ice family.

• Roland Raffanti, who was Jeff’s first salesman hire, died in 1998 after working with the company for 2 years. Even after his passing, each of Roland’s sons, Andrew and Trey, have spent some summers working for Memphis Ice.
• Then there’s Clarence Stewart, a long-time service technician, who started with Memphis Ice in 1980 at the age of 17. While he died in 2014, his son, Danny, joined the business in 2013 and still works with them today.
• Finally, Tommy Cox started with the company in 1989 and worked as a service technician and service dispatcher until retiring in 2011. He died earlier this year.

Each of these Memphis Ice extended family members are loved and missed, and we appreciate the value they brought to this family business during their time with us.

As this blogger (who also happens to be Clark’s wife) was learning about Memphis Ice Machine Company’s history, she was treated to steak and shrimp cooked up for the team by Jeff’s wife, Tamah, the night before:

…And it all started on a blustery day in 1962.