Charlie McCormick Celebrates 25 Years at the Rose Marco River Marina

As Charlie McCormick looked around the parking lot at Rose’s Marco River Marina, he couldn’t help but reflect on the changes he’s seen in the 25 years since he first moved here from Lakeland, Florida. As an on-the-road salesperson, he had become familiar with the Marco River Marina because he sold them tackle and gear for their small marina Ship’s Store.

In 1997, he accepted an employment offer from the then-owners of the marina. “I guess they were happy with who I was, and I had nothing holding me in Lakeland, so down I came,” said the affable McCormick.

“I guess I’ve done just about everything around here, but I do like dealing with the folks and working in the Ship’s Store,” said Charlie, who had been hired as the store’s Assistant Manager. You could sense that he loved doing what he did because he was always looking over his shoulder during our interview. He was making sure things were moving along smoothly inside his home away from home.

“We basically had to gut the store after Irma came through. We had 5” of water inside the store. We really made a lot of nice improvements within the store itself thanks to Irma,” said Charlie with a great smile and beaming with pride.

During the storm, as Irma came ashore, Charlie hunkered down in the newly constructed boat barn. “I didn’t think it would be too good an idea to have tried to ride it out down in my trailer in Goodland,” said Charlie with a big grin.

As the conversation drifted back to his early days at the marina, he gave credit to Bill Rose for having acquired the full ownership of the property. Rose originally owned a portion of the marina along with partners who were a group of retired Xerox executives. “When Bill bought out his partners, he actually began reinvesting in the marina and began some of the improvements when it was totally his,” said Charlie. 

Today, one of McCormick’s biggest challenges is acquiring merchandise. “Everything is just so hard to get. From rods, reels, fishing tackle, clothing, and even soft drinks. It’s just a challenge to get anything today.” 

“People can be another challenge, but we have a great group of folks here that have been around and do a great job,” McCormick added.

As we walked back into the Ship’s Store to take a photo, it was hard to keep Charlie focused. Charlie was more at home dealing with the customers and helping out. You could tell he was in his element the moment he stepped back in and around the customers and merchandise. For the last quarter of a century, Charlie McCormick has truly been a fixture there.

“I really don’t think I could retire and just do nothing. I’d have to stay involved in something,” said McCormick. 

McCormick is the perfect example of a man who loved what he did, and because of that, would feel as if he never worked a day in his life over the last 25 years.