Every Story has a Beginning and Every Man has Two Ends… Al Dellabella

I spent three days fighting through the dense jungles of Cuba City to gain the opportunity of meeting one of the longest surviving sales people in the Tri-State area… Al Dellabella. Al has been with the Runde team since 2002. This is his story…

Are you originally from the Cuba City area?
Yes-sir, I have lived here all my life.

How long has Al Dellabella worked for Runde Buick and what do you do here?
I have been here since the sign out front changed. I actually used to run Dellabella Motors before it became Runde Buick. My grandfather opened this store in 1938, and made it an official Buick dealership in 1949.

So this store has been in your blood for a while…
Yes it has. Like I said, my grandfather started the store, then my dad took it over from him, after that, my wife and I ran it … I suppose selling cars just runs in our family.

What is the best part about your job?
Working with the great people who live in a small town like this.

What is the worst part about the job?
There is none. I enjoy what I do, that’s why I am still here.

Considering the awesome new line-up that Buick is offering, which vehicle are you the most excited about right now?
I really like the Enclaves. They are roomy, and just a notch above the rest. It honestly gives you the most “bang for your buck.”

Does Al Dellabella have a favorite spot in the Tri-state area?
My home.

If you could only drive one vehicle for the rest of your days, which one would you choose and why?
It’s a hard decision to make, but I am going to stick with my Chevrolet Tahoe. It is a nice full-sized vehicle with 4WD and is beefy enough to get through anything. It is nice enough to go cruising around during summer, and powerful enough to handle the wonderful snow which we get every winter.

Would you describe yourself as the life of the party, a casual mingler, or a wallflower?
I am more of the casual mingler.

Do you have any family in the area?
Well I have been married to my wife, Debbie, for 30 years, and we have two children, Sara and Josh. Sara has two children, Sophia and Dylan, and they are wonderful grandchildren.

Do you have any hobbies that you do regularly?
I like to work on my cars, and I really enjoy playing my guitar and harmonica at the same time. I also play Cello with a group at Sinsanawa Mound called Sinsanawa Strings.

What is your favorite movie of all time? How many times have you watched it?
Used Cars with Kurt Russell. I’d say that I am nearing 3000 views.

If I ran out to your car and pressed the eject button on your stereo, what CD would pop out at me?
Nothing. I don’t have any CDs. My stereo never moves from 89.7 F.M.

If you returned to your house to a voicemail saying that your test results came back and you only have a month to live, how would you spend your last days?

I would stay at home, sit in my hacienda, drink beer and relax.

What is the farthest place you’ve ever travelled to and what did you do there?
Incirlik, Turkey, near Adona. I went there when I was in the Air Force, it was a blast!

What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever witnessed?
I wasn’t personally there, but I did see it live on TV. The falling of the Twin Towers.

If you had a time machine, what date in time would you travel back to first and why?
I would stay here. I don’t want to go back in history, and who truly wants to know the future?

Elvis or Johnny Cash?
Both.

Packers, Bears, or Vikings?
Packers

Marilyn Monroe or Raquel Welch?
Can’t choose.

Mexican food, Chinese buffet, or pizza?
Pizza, I love Carola’s Pizza.

Home on the range or bright lights, big city?
Home, home on the range.

Facebook, Twitter, or the daily newspaper?
Newspaper.

What is one piece of technology you could not live without?
Refrigeration. Heck with the telephones and internet. I don’t want my food to spoil.

Win the lottery, fly to the moon, or become President?
Stay at home. What is there to do on the moon? Who wants to be President? And the lottery gets you too much attention.

If you could choose one famous person to be your teacher/mentor for a year, who would it be and why?
Ronald Reagen. He pulled California out of debt, and returned the right to hold actual gold and silver.

Whats the most prized possession in your life?
My wife. I couldn’t do anything without her.

If your story was turned into a NBC movie of the week, what would it be called?
Each Man Has Two Ends, The Sitting End and the Thinking End. Heads We Win, Tails We Lose.

We’d like to thank Al Dellabella for his time and for all of his hard work at the dealership.