Early on in my career at CompuServe, somewhere around 1985, Bob Massey introduced me to Joe Blancato. Joe was a good friend of Bob’s and was a potential prospect for our services. We met, played a little golf, did a little business and that was that. We all referred to Joe as “Chicken Joe,” because he was in the chicken brokerage business back then. He brokered chickens to a variety of restaurants, including KFC, if my memory is to be trusted! Funny, huh.
Chicken Joe was always smiling and seemed at ease on the golf course, and at ease at work. He seemed to actually really LOVE selling some kinda chicken. As a 26 year old punk, I didn’t pick up on much back then but I did take notice of Chicken Joe. He didn’t seem like big business. He didn’t seem too complicated. He didn’t seem like somebody with some kinda hidden agenda.
Strange as it may sound, he just seemed like somebody who actually liked his work. He just did.
Last night, 25 years later, Miss and I ran into Chicken Joe and the Massman (Bob) at a wine tasting dinner at Muirfield. I was instantly transported back to my early days at work and his inviting smile and strong handshake. Chicken Joe hadn’t really changed. We shared a few words, some laughs and not much else. It was good to see him. It was good to see Massman too.
As we parted ways, I asked him if he was still in the Chicken business. “Of course,” Massman interjected. “We’re all retired in FLA but Chicken Joe can’t stay away from his Chicken business for long, he’s always checking in and working the phones just like he always has.”
He’s Chicken Joe, of course he would.
Who knew that somebody’s OPUS could center around selling some kinda chicken? Who knew?
Chicken Joe, that’s who…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Chicken Joe – what a great guy. I remember when Joe and Pat, Bob and Sue, and Terry Graves and I all piled in a Mercedes E class to drive from our country inn to the Belfry Golf Club near Birmingham England to watch the Ryder Cup – with Joe driving — on the left side of the road. What a blast!