Farming

Bob was raised on a small 10 acre farm in southern New Jersey. The family raised chickens for eggs which were sold direct to customers in Woodbury New Jersey from circa1948 through about 1965. The farm also produced strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn and Gooseberries. Bob was very involved with all these operations from early childhood through High school when he left the farm for college.
                             

Pot Holders

1949 Made and sold over 1000 pair of jersey loop potholders. $0.25 a pair or $0.15 each. All the funds less material went into savings

Garden Plowing

For the springs of 6th, 7th, and 8th grades Bob would plow gardens for many of the Clarksboro homeowners. He used the family Farmall Cub tractor and was paid whatever the homeowner offered. They invariably paid more than Bob would charge so Bob and dad were very happy.

Honey

1953-1955 Bob originally started with one hive as part of the Boy Scout beekeeping merit badge. The second season Bob bought 5 multiple super hives with money made by plowing gardens. Premium honey was graded for lightness in color and was very competitively priced at about $0.30 a pint. Bob planted buckwheat, pointed the hives toward local wild flowers and nearby woods, and developed very dark honey. This dark honey was sold to the egg customers (see farming above) as real honey and not the commercial light honey in the stores. Bob sold several thousand pints at about $1.25 a pint and the demand far out paced the supply. Momma J. developed an allergy to bee stings and the bee business had to be sold. The profits were saved for college costs.

Space suits

1965-1967 During employment at United Nuclear Corp. in Hew Haven Connecticut Bob was in charge of making naval nuclear fuel assemblies. One of the operations required the operators to work in a pure Argon atmosphere saturated with alcohol. United Nuclear could not buy any workable operator protective suits anywhere. Even the designers of the Mercury and Gemini suits could not produce good suits. Rocket fuel handling full body protective suits failed from alcohol exposure. Bob designed and made workable suits in his basement that worked better than expectations. He sold these suits to United Nuclear and expanded sales to Universal Cyclops in Pittsburgh who successfully used the suits for welding operators inside large argon filled assembly rooms. Garrisue Industries, Inc was established and incorporated to assist the expanding business. Bob then bid on a large contract with Oak Ridge for plutonium handling. Bob made the only workable sample that was required with the bid. However, the government did not want to risk the project with the key device being made in the basement of one person. The government gave the design to a large company to supply the product at a higher price.
 

TRIAX

1974-1998 Bob started a general metal fabrication “C” Corporation business in the recession of 1974. He started with leased business (the operating company F. A. Long Co.), equipment, buildings and inventory (yes, inventory can be leased if done carefully). Working capital was form Bob’s paycheck savings and no bank financing was available for two years. The business started with three full time employees and Bob. Triax expanded continuously through 1995 when there were about 100 families dependant on TRIAX for employment and wages.

In 1996 Bob started to downsize TRIAX. The last part of the company was sold through bankruptcy in 1998. During the 24 years of TRIAX and through the bankruptcy there was never a missed payroll, late or unpaid taxes, late bank payments or any loss to a secured creditor.

Innovations documented with Patents

Greaseless Fulcrum for Railcar Door

6,807,774 – USA 10/26/04

Dual Pawls for Railcar door operation

6,659,018 – USA 12/9/03

Greaseless Railcar Door Hanger Assembly

6,647,896 – USA 11/18/03

Railcar Handbrake

6,397,978 – USA 1/4/02

782,502 – Australia 8/4/05

201/7595 – South Africa 5/29/02

Railcar Pendulum Brake Beam

6,273,219 – USA 8/14/01

Railcar Braking Mechanism

5,785,159 – USA 7/28/98

Anti-Rotation Member for Railcar Brake Beam

5,456,337 – USA 10/10/95

95/0263 – South Africa 2/28/98

ZL94108719.0 – China 1/13/01

Intermodal Shipping Securing Device

5,613,814 – USA 3/25/97

Railcar Brake System

5,259,485 – USA 11/9/93

Railcar Brake Beam

5,000,298 – USA 3/19/91

Interconnecting Container Lock

4,641,399 – USA 2/10/87

Tri-axially redrawn metal Tubing

3,678,727 – USA 7/25/72

953,245 – Canada 8/20/74

1,388,431 – Great Britain 7/23/75

978,272 – Japan

2,101,395 – France 3/31/72

Jackson International, Inc.

1990 to Present This corporation was started in 1990 and sub chapter “S” incorporated in 1993. The primary purpose was to assist TRIAX and other companies for international import and export business. Export was to countries such as Brazil, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. Imports were primarily from China.

Employment History

Paulsboro Record – Reporter for East Greenwich circa 1955

Summer 1957 - Del Monte canning house – Swedesboro, NJ

Quality control 12 hr days, 7 days a week normal

Summer 1958 & 1959 – Philadelphia Navy Yard

Student trainee, metallurgical assistant

Summer 1960 – Alan Wood Steel Co. – Near Philadelphia, PA – Steel producer

Assistant metallurgist – Major temper rolling process improvement

1961 – 1962 – ACF Industries - Albuquerque, NM – Nuclear weapons mfg.

Metallurgist – “Q” security clearance

Redefined heat treatment for 6061 Aluminum

Developed welding process for Titanium alloys

1962 – 1963 – Superior Tube Co

Senior Engineer – “L” security clearance

Developed new processes for naval nuclear reactor control rods

1964 – 1969 – United Nuclear – New Haven, CT – Naval nuclear reactor mfg

1964 Senior Engineer

1965 Welding Superintendent (promotion)

1966 Production engineering Manager (promotion)

1968 Project manager (promotion)

1969-1970 Elwwood Ivins Tube Co. – Horsham, PA - Steel and Stainless Tubing redraw Mill (Ref Bob’s tubing patent)

P & L Plant Manager

1971 Olin Corp, Alton Il – Ordinance and air bag manufacturer

Technical Specialist

1972 Abbery Steel Co, Perth Amboy, NJ

Plant Manager - Bob wanted to buy Abbery Steel but had insufficient funds

1973 – 1974 Graver Tank – East Chicago IN – Huge refinery tanks and commercial nuclear plant construction.

Manufacturing Manager – Resigned to start TRIAX

1974 to present

The above history was for employment for wages. Since 1974 all of Bob’s income has been from TRIAX and Jackson International as the owner and operator. See the Entrepreneur section. From 1998 to 2003 Bob was also the Chief Engineer for YSD Industries to facilitate the sale of TRIAX to YSD Industries.

Family Status

Married Barbara Ann Arndt 8/30/75

BA Education 1969 – Western Michigan University

MA Education Leadership 1976 – Western Michigan University

English Teacher in rural Michigan setting 1969 – 1978

Homemaker – 1978-1998

1998 to present - Certified English Teacher in - Benton Harbor, MI, High School

Son – Scott

BA education, Certified English, Speech & Drama

Certified English and Drama teacher, Bangor, MI High School
Son – John

BS Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State

MS Business, Michigan State

VP Operations and 49% owner of Jackson International, Inc.

Manufacturer of Railcar Components
Maggie – Schnauzer – Love absorber & barker

Married Helen Sue Pfaffinger 9/10/60

Helen’s parents were German immigrants

Divorced 8/6/69, One son, Thomas. Two granddaughters

Awards and Community Recognition

8/8/77 TRIAX Tube Co. (owned by Bob Jackson) Business Commendation – City of Benton Harbor City Council Resolution

1983 Bob Jackson – Citizen of the Year – Benton Harbor Kiwanis Club

1983 Bob Jackson – Engineer of the year – Blossom Land Chapter Michigan Society of Professional Engineers

10/17/83 Bob Jackson Commendation – City of Benton Harbor Commission

   First business man to purchase a portion of a vacated foundry building

   Prime recruiter of other businesses to buy Benton harbor Industrial property

   Chairman of the Benton Harbor City Enterprise Zone (No Tax Zone)

5/23/84 Recognition for donation of a complete X-Ray unit to the Davis Memorial Hospital in Georgetown, Guyana. - Seventh-Day Adventists

6/11/87 1987 Twin Cities Area Small Business Person of the Year – Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce

6/11/87 Gold Award for 50% growth in 3 years - TRIAX Tube Co – Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce.

11/6/87 Expansion Award – TRIAX Tube Co – Twin Cities Area Chamber of Commerce

7/15/91 Special Tribute to TRIAX - Senate of the State Of Michigan – Recognized the US Chamber Blue Chip Award to TRIAX

1991 U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Blue Chip” achievement award. One of 4 businesses recognized in Michigan

1992 Golden Stake Award to Bob Jackson – Cornerstone Alliance, Council of Commerce and Community Development

1993 Tigers Baseball Team Sponsor (1st Place) – Benton Harbor Little League

11/5/93 Certificate of award to TRIAX-DAVIS (owned by Bob Jackson) for job training – Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Private Industry Council.

1/24/94 1993 Platinum Stake Award to TRIAX Tube Co. for 100% Sales increase in 1993. – Cornerstone Alliance

1994 Fairplain Tigers Baseball Team Sponsor (1st Place) – Benton Harbor Little League

1995 Fairplain Baseball Team Sponsor (2nd Place) – Benton Harbor Little League

9/12/95 Certificate of Appreciation – The Air Brake Association.

9/15/97 Certificate of Appreciation – The Air Brake Association.

2006 Wabano District Chairman Service Award - Boy Scouts of America

Community Experience

Member – 32 years - First Church of God of St Joseph
   Member - Missions Board - 2 years

Director – 10 years – Twin Cities Area Chamber of Commerce
   Chairman – Enterprise Zone (No Tax Zone) Committee
   Member – Legislative Committee

Director – 1 year – Cornerstone Alliance (Area Economic Development)

Delegate – 1 year – Governor’s Conference on Small Business

Chairman – 10 years – City of Benton Harbor Enterprise Zone (No Tax Zone) Council

Director – 2 years – Benton Harbor Businessmen’s Association

Member – 2 years – Benton Harbor City Venture Advisory Board

Director – 10 years – CETA, JTPA and finally the Tri-County Private Industry Council (PIC)
   Federal Job Training and Placement Programs

Director – 2 years – Northwestern Berrien County Sanitary Land Fill Authority

Member – 45 years – American Society of Metals

Member – 45 years – National Society of Professional Engineers

Member – 25 years - Michigan Society of Professional Engineers

Member – 10 years – Rotary International – Paul Harris Fellow
   Member of several clubs from 1982 to present

Boy Scouts of America - Lifelong involvement

Executive Board Member – 4 years - Berrien County Republicans
   100 Club Member
   4th Congressional District Committee
   Precinct Delegate

Candidate for Michigan 4th Congressional District – 1982 and 1984
   Federal Elections Committee registered and Reported
   Withdrew before Republican primary vote
 

Education

Registered Professional Engineer (PA, IN)