Trane Man Keeps Runnin’: Jim Rube Surpasses 49 Years in Business

Popular heating and air conditioning advertisements state, “It’s Hard to stop a Trane.” Apparently, it’s even harder to stop a Trane man. Jim Rube sold his business, Rube’s Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Inc., three years ago, but 49 years after coming to Great Bend, the service technician is still keeping central Kansas homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

“I came out of Navy on a Friday, came to Great Bend Monday morning, applied for a job, got the job, and I’ve been basically at the same place ever since,” said Rube, who grew up in nearby Susank.

Making His Mark – Jim Rube, former owner of Rube’s, marks drill holes for vent installation. Rube came to Great Bend 49 years ago in mid-May following U.S. Naval service and, aside from a seven-month stint in Kansas City, Mo., he has made his mark on this community through that period with his heating, air conditioning and refrigeration business.

Rube learned his trade in the service, and eventually he was put in charge of all refrigeration systems aboard an aircraft carrier, overseeing more than 100 sailors.

From the large ship to a small shop in a matter of 72 hours, Rube began working for Johnson Refrigeration, then located at 910 Kansas Ave., in 1959. Nine years passed there before Rube and his wife, Connie, moved to Kansas City, Mo., where Jim worked for Packaging Corporation, repairing units all across the country.

“In the service, I made 11 cents an hour and I came to work in Great Bend making a dollar and a quarter an hour,” said Rube. “Mr. (Harry) Johnson and I got along well, he just didn’t pay much. My wife and I were looking to start a family, we had to move.”

Seven months later, the Rube’s returned to Great Bend after settling on a 50 percent partnership agreement with Johnson.

Remembered Rube, “I came home and my wife said, ‘They’ve accepted your offer.’ I asked, ‘What do you think?’ She said, ‘I’m going with or without you.’ My wife detested Kansas City like you wouldn’t believe.”

The partners worked together for about three years before Johnson died on an operating table from a heart attack. Rube purchased the business outright from the Johnson family, kept the name for about eight years, then changed it to Rube’s Johnson Refrigeration, and finally settled on its current name about five years later.

Must Read  – Material explaining the different Trane heating and air conditioning products offered by Rube’s Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration can be found in the company’s show-room floor at 5251 Ninth St.

In 1977, he moved the business from 1015 McKinley to its current location, 5251 Ninth St., adding 5,000 square feet to the building in the mid-1980s. Rube’s changed sales brands when GE sold to Trane in 1981. Although mostly recognized for its Trane systems, today, the company also sells Heil equipment and Coleman mobile and modular home systems.

The company also services commercial ice machines, walk-in coolers, and reach-in coolers. Additionally, it performs duct cleaning, installs fire place inserts, gas lines, tube heaters and heat pumps. It also installs and services air cleaners and humidifiers.

A decade ago, Rube sold half of his business to his daughter and son-in-law, Carie and Brian Pedigo, then sold the couple the business outright three years ago.

“They call all the shots now,” said Rube. “They don’t need to confer it with me because I have no say. I still bid a lot of jobs for the company and Brian and I discuss those jobs.”

No longer the boss, Rube has had to work by his daughter’s rules. He’s not on-call anymore, although he admits to servicing a few calls when no one else is available, and he is banned from working Fridays.

“It’s difficult when you are running two or three weeks behind to take a day off, but it works best for me,” explained Rube. “My wife and I have grand kids and we go to all the football games, basketball games, track meets, any school events, so my time away from work is important to us and to them.”

Hands On – Rube’s Inc. owner Brian Pedigo oxyacetylene welds a copper tube to a 13 SEER air conditioner at a residence in Great Bend. Following the welding, Pedigo inspects his work.

Whether Rube works or plays nowadays, the business remains in good hands with the Pedigos in charge. Rube said the customer base has tripled since Brian joined him dozen years ago.

Pedigo chalks his success up to having such a consummate teacher and mentor.

“I never went to school to learn this trade, but I learned from the best teacher” said Pedigo. “Jim taught me everything. I earned my master, the license I need to run this business, based upon what I learned from him.”

Operating with five full-time and three part-time employees, Pedigo said his crew has worked extra to keep up with increased demand. He attributes the excess work to Rube’s solid, longstanding reputation in the industry that has his crews covering a 60-mile radius to install new units and to service existing ones.

Trane Team – Jim Rube, former owner, and current owner Brian Pedigo stand in front of a Rube’s Inc. van. The “P” lettering on the van signifies Pedigo’s involvement in the business. After, Rube’s represents name recognition to central Kansas, so Pedigo said he currently has no intentions of changing the name.

“It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s satisfying work,” said Pedigo. “You can make a good living doing it, while at the same time you are helping people and they appreciate your service.”

Rube said it’s a matter of being honest with people, taking adequate time and care to service their equipment, and “letting them know well in advance that they’d better start saving their money because they’re going to have to spend a couple of thousand one of these days, to update their heating and cooling systems.”

The good news is that once installed, the new and energy-efficient units will last for many years, saving home and business owners money over time on cooling and heating bills.

“Keep them serviced and clean, keep the filters clean and wash condensers out, you should get 25 years or more out of them,” said Rube.

By comparison, length of service for the Trane man is 49 years … and counting.

“We need to plan on hiring another one or two employees,” said Rube. “I’m going to phase out, eventually.”

After being a major part of the business for nearly five decades, it is hard to imagine Rube’s without Rube. The only task more difficult than stopping a Trane man may be replacing him when the time comes.