RIP Bill Porter: A salesman story that will inspire you like no other

William H. Macy played him so well in the movie Door To Door. These guys are my heroes.

That was a very compelling performance, I recall watching it. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the idea for making that film was William H. Macy's.

The movie was great. One of those that stays with you.

The man was giant in life...and the world of sales.

I didn't know he pass on. RIP to a great sales inspiration.

I bought the VHS tape based only on the title, and got about a third into it before the player died.

Just got another player, so this time I should be able to watch the whole thing. But there were some priceless comments in the parts I did get to see.

Great to hear that my first instincts about the movie were correct!

Add me to the growing "softie" club members .

Wow, what a story! Thanks for the video.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_P...%28salesman%29

Bill Porter (September 9, 1932 – December 3, 2013) was an American salesman for Watkins Incorporated of Winona, Minnesota. Born with cerebral palsy,[1] Porter came to the public's attention in 1995, when an Oregon newspaper wrote a series of feature stories about him.[2]

Born in San Francisco, California, Porter moved to Portland, Oregon, with his mother at a young age.[1] He was unable to gain employment due to his cerebral palsy, but refused to go on disability. Porter eventually convinced Watkins Incorporated to give him a door-to-door salesman job, selling its products on a seven-mile route in the Portland area.[3] He eventually became the top seller for the company.

In 1995 The Oregonian ran a feature story about Porter in its newspaper. The story of his optimistic determination made him the subject of media attention across the United States. He was featured in Reader's Digest and on ABC's 20/20,[1] and was the subject of a 2002 made-for-TV movie on TNT called Door to Door, featuring William H. Macy, Kyra Sedgwick and Helen Mirren.[4] In 2009 the Japanese TBS network aired a TV-movie loosely based on Bill Porter, also called Door To Door. It starred Ninomiya Kazunari and Rosa Kato as fictional versions of Porter and Brady. Porter died of an infection in Gresham, Oregon, on December 3, 2013, at the age of 81.[2][5]

Here is the movie:

:: All smiles here ::

What a truly touching story. An end to an era.

Truly inspirational. I know a lot of people who would say their life sucks all because they had a bad hair day. This guys had cerebral palsy and he didn't let that get in the way of what he wanted to achieve. RIP Bill Porter

I was whining other day about making cold calls and getting rejected, I would have made a couple of hundred calls and got so miserable to get rejected but look at this man, he did it for almost 40 years . I feel like so stupid, I should do more

I had the privilege of being associated with Bill Porter. The very first time I meet him I got an ear full of "no excuse" and "get it done" conversation. The man simply had the right attitude and a never give up way of looking at life. What an inspiration!

Leon McKee

This is such an inspiration! Thanks for posting.