In Memoriam: Bob Hartley

Hartley, longtime vice president of safety & insurance, Truly Nolen, passed away on Oct. 6. He was 80 (and would have turned 81 on Oct. 19).


Bob Hartley, longtime vice president of safety & insurance, Truly Nolen, passed away on Oct. 6 in Tucson, Ariz., following a brief illness. He was 80 (and would have turned 81 on Oct. 19).

Hartley celebrated 50 years with Truly in 2020.  Hartley first became familiar with Tucson while serving as a radar technician in the Air Force on Mount Lemmon. After his honorable discharge in late-1969, Hartley elected to relocate to Tucson permanently and used a hiring agency to try and find employment. After a couple of temporary interviews, he had a 20 minute interview with Truly Nolen and was hired on the spot as a termite inspector.

From this initial meeting, a strong professional relationship began as well as a friendship. When Hartley first became a district manager, he stressed to Truly the importance of each of his team members having proper eyewear, gloves, respirator, and hard hat. “Truly rolled my idea out across the company, and eventually had me join the executive team focusing on safety, chemicals, and vehicles.”
 
In that 2020 article, Truly Nolen President Scarlett Nolen said of Hartley, “Bob is someone that has always spoken his mind – and that is something my father always appreciated about him. Bob’s career evolution starting as a termite technician and growing to a vice president and board member embodies the opportunities we hope our partners strive for.”