One of a Kind

“It’s so hot, trees are whistling for dogs. It’s so hot, chickens are laying hard-boiled eggs. It’s so hot, asphalt has achieved a liquid state. It’s so hot, ice cubes spontaneously combust.”

My buddy Bill and I fired off that string of “It’s too hot” jokes, evoking the spirit of our old friend and mentor, Ken DuVall, the jokemeister of all time.

“I sure miss old KDV; how long has he been gone?” said Bill.

It was three years ago this week, and we miss him. KDV had such an impact on all who knew him and worked with him that his name comes up every day in a story, a quote, a joke, or a Real Estate dilemma.

The first time I saw Ken in action, he stood at the front of a classroom of eighteen students in a real estate license prep course. He was the instructor. He took boring material and served it up mixed with jokes and stories.

“If you’re anything like me you won’t let your schooling interfere with your education.”

“You wanna be rich? Easy. Get up early, work hard, and strike oil.”

And: “Just watch me closely and listen precisely. That way you’ll know exactly what not to do for success in real estate.”

Ken was a sincere mentor.

“If you work really hard you can make a great living in real estate,” he said, “but no joke, it’s all about the people. Do the job well for the people, and then you’ll get paid. If you’re just going for the bread, babe, you’re dead.”

And: “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Ken was born and raised in Hollywood. He raced motorcycles in competitions on tracks, dirt, and desert sand. He was a stunt man in the movies — he crashed cars, flipped motorcycles, and jumped off buildings. Check out “Hot Rod Girl” and “Jail House Rock” from the ‘50’s.

Through it all, Ken was a salesman. From the time he was a teenager, he sold everything from aluminum siding to coffee makers to T.V. antennas. Then fifty years of Real Estate.

“The secret to selling, babe,” he said, “is trust and honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made. Just kidding!”

Ken loved his wife and kids. “In all things, my friend,” he said, “love is the answer. Now, if I can just remember the question…”

Ken loved his dogs. The last note he sent me was “Things We Can Learn from a Dog: 1) Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride. 2) Be loyal. 3) When someone is having a bad day, be silent and sit close by. 4) When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.”

RIP, KDV, one-of-a-kind.