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Chuck Buck – Introduction
Chuck Buck truly is a legend in his industry. As a third generation, grandson of the
founder, Chuck has not only followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, but he has taken the entire family and their business to a new level.
I first met Chuck at a local outreach
function here in San Diego for business and professional leaders. He had a certain countenance about him, which was very unusual. He was confident about who he was and why he was there, but he was very humble with the accolades
that were being mentioned about him.
The next time that we were together was when he was the keynote speaker at a local function. I went up afterwards and thanked him for the meaningful message,
and he suggested I come over to his plant to see his operation and get to know each other, which I did the following week.
The process of making a quality knife is a fascinating process, and the
way he shared the making of the steel, and then putting it through extremely high temperatures and then freezing it at sub-zero temperatures to prepare it for being made into a useful device was unbelievable. He related the
process to the way we humans having a basic sinful nature are taken through the maturing process of life by our Lord as he prepares us to be useful vessels.
We sat down in Chuck's office
and he shared his personal story with me, about how God had revealed himself to Chuck through a series of very difficult circumstances. As I listened to him share his entire life story and read the personal yet professionally
produced testimony which they print up and enclose in each of the over two million knife boxes, which they produce every year, I was absolutely fascinated. I thought this story, needs to be heard by every business and
professional leader, many of whom have the same struggles. The story in each of the knife boxes is built around the scripture John 3:16.
Having been involved in a very large family business, I was
able to follow what Chuck's level of frustration had been. As Chuck finished the story, I asked him if he would be willing to share his story with other business and professional leaders. He agreed to do so, and not only did he
share the Buck Knife story, but he also became extremely transparent with a very personal story, which he had never shared outside the family. It was a very moving, emotional story and brought tears to our eyes.
That evening, just 12 hours after sharing this very personal and emotional story, his brand new home of less than 6 months burned to the ground. They had literally just completed this spectacular 10,000
square foot home complete with a mother-in-law apartment where Lori's mother lives with them. I saw parts of the house fire on the late night TV news. When I called Chuck he reminded me that the devil is alive and well, but
that no one was hurt and that most of the structure was covered with insurance and the things could be replaced. It was very evident to me that the peace that transcends all understanding was very evident in his voice.
What a great privilege it is to know Chuck and Lori Buck, and to watch that fine family business growing under the leadership of a third generation family member, and their son C.J. being groomed to
carry on things could be replaced. It was very evident to me that the peace that transcends all understanding was very evident in his voice.
What a great privilege it is to know Chuck and Lori Buck, and to watch that fine family business growing under the leadership of a third generation family member, and their son C.J. being groomed to carry on the tradition.
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