ANDERSON, Ind. — Earl Bowling found his calling. Turned out it was calling.

Bowling is an auctioneer, and every Saturday afternoon, he’s busy moving items brought in for sale at Kelli’s Auction Co. at 3133 N. Indiana 9. He said it’s a family business — Kelli Waldrep is his daughter — and “if you’re in the family, you work in the auction on Saturday.”

That includes his twin daughters, Kelsey and Kirby Bowling, who operate concessions on the side from being Anderson University students; grandson Cameron, 5, and son Eli, 6, are “ringmen” who hold items up for bidders to see; and even 3-year-old son Gavin gets in the action on the ticket end, Bowling said.  

Bowling said the business also sells items directly on consignment and helps clients list them for sale on www.craigslist.org. “We sell any and everything,” he said.  

How long have you been at your job?

Probably 20 years. ... What started me was I was Kmart’s corporate auctioneer. I started selling out Kmarts, and then I took over the Strawtown Auction Co. in Noblesville, and we sold that and built the new one out here.

Do you have to have any special training?

You  just have to take a test with the state, you get a certification with the state just like you would being hairdresser or a Realtor. Realtors and I are pretty much the same test. Every four years you’ve got to go through continuing education.

What do you like best about your job?

I love my job and love the auction business. We’re packed every Saturday, it’s standing room only out there, and we’re the only auction house in Anderson. We’ll sell gold watches to cars and trucks to pieces of furniture.

What do you like least?

There just really is nothing. ... Probably when somebody brings in something and it doesn’t bring what they want, you can see disappointment in their eyes ... But sometimes it brings more than they expect, and you can see the excitement in their eyes. If you can’t accept one or the other, you probably don’t belong in the businesses.

What are some of the challenges of being an auctioneer?

Maybe just competing with other auctions. ... We have our regulars who make a living selling stuff through our auction. ... We’re in a business where people need you in this type of day.  ... A lot of them get paid that night so they can buy their kids food ...A lot of people just need money and they depend on us selling (what they bring in).

What’s the funniest thing that has happened on the job?

We’ve had people that have come in here pregnant and had to leave. ... Every Saturday night it’s a blast ... We have  a good sense of humor.

What kind of jobs does Madison County need?

Madison County, it’s in bad shape, but it started years ago and it’s just now catching up. ... Madison County, it needs to start all over. Delco-Remy’s gone, Guide Lamp’s gone — I’d have a big sign on the interstate that says, “All businesses are welcome. Let’s build ‘em.”

What are some of the more unusual items you’ve sold?

We opened up a box and it had a lock on it that said Cell Block 16 and had Alcatraz on the back. Someone bought it for like, $850. It was a guy from Fairmount who had an antique business. He said, “Earl, I’ll double my money.” We sold a 1913 Madison County  license plate — the first year there were license plates — that plate brought $350 or $400. ... We’ve sold people’s wooden legs.

What would be your idea of the perfect job?

If i wasn’t an auctioneer, there’s only one job I’d want, and that’s to be a lawyer. ... If you’re a lawyer and good at it, I think you’ve got a great job.

If you didn’t have to work for a living, what would you do?

Just hang with my kids. I took my son and my grandson to watch Colts practice, we like football, like basketball, like sports, like to take it easy at the lakes ... I just want to be with them all the time.

How do you like to spend your hard-earned money?

My kids. I like to see them have stuff that I didn’t have.



Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com