Mr. Rob Forever

Like many kids in the area, I grew up enjoying Mr. Rob’s snowballs (and candy). Now my kids do, too. However, it wasn’t until recently I realized I’ve only glimpsed a small window (get it?) into the beloved snowball truck and man. After talking with Mr. Rob and other long-term customers that he's served across multiple generations, I’m so happy I could get to know this local legend better. 

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The Beginning 

How does one fall into the snowball business as a career for 42 years? For Rob Williams, he was in college when a friend bought a snowball truck for $500 and asked him to help out in 1982. 

“During the time we worked together, I found that I liked selling snowballs and wanted to do it full-time,” Mr. Rob said. 

So, he bought his first truck in 1994, which was second-hand and used for over six years. It was an old mail truck outfitted with an ice machine, shelves, selling window, and sound system. Along with the truck, came a cassette tape of “London Bridge is Falling Down.” It’s the same music Mr. Rob still plays today.  

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The second truck he bought was brand new. He had it modified for snowballs and professionally lettered. Twenty-four years later, he’s still using that second truck that he bought in 2000. A truck that now has over 25,000 customer signatures inside. 

“In the beginning, it was just riding around to see which communities showed an interest in snowballs and over the years setting up regular stops,” Mr. Rob explained. 

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Starting out, he went to summer camps and sports games in Severna Park, Arnold, and Pasadena. Then in the spring and fall, he began going to various neighborhoods and schools in those areas. During his routes, he learned of local pools that became the mainstay of his summer routine.  

“Over the years, neighborhoods change as kids grow up, and I occasionally have to change my areas of focus,” he explained. 

Finally, Mr. Rob began doing special events: fundraisers, birthday parties, block parties, school events, graduation parties, and even a couple of weddings for kids that grew up eating his snowballs.

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A lot of Mr. Rob’s motivation for staying in the snowball biz is he likes being his own boss.  

“What keeps me in the snowball business is how much I enjoy talking to the customers, especially the kids,” Mr. Rob said. “I found that opening the back doors and letting the kids hang around the big bumper became a huge social area for everyone.” 

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The Schedule 

Many would be surprised to know that running Mr. Rob’s snowball business easily requires full-time work almost year-round. For Mr. Rob, snowball season begins the first or second week of March. It continues sometimes as late as December 28. Of course, this is all weather dependent. If it’s below 50 degrees, he won’t venture out. January and February are months off for recovery. He’ll travel with his girlfriend, Julie, during this time, often to Daytona Beach Shores where he has a timeshare. By the end of February, Mr. Rob is checking to see what truck repairs are needed from his standby mechanic, Severna Park Automotive, which is also a Scoop go-to! 

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Once pool season hits, it takes him a few hours to get ready in the morning before leaving to serve snowballs to eight or nine pools a day. It can also vary depending on crowds, or if he has an event. 

At the end of the day, he’ll take all the flavors out of the truck, given the hot summer temperatures. He does inventory of cups, spoons, and candy. The next day it begins all over again, loading everything back into the truck. 

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Pricing

As far as his pricing philosophy, when he began his business, he did a $0.75 per snowball. Every kid could get marshmallow topping or a piece of candy (each a quarter) and spend a dollar. 

Fast forward to today, with flavors ranging from fan-favorites of Egg Custard, Blue Raspberry, and Rainbow to Mr. Rob’s personal favorites Dreamsicle or Fireball, the cost of his snowballs begin at $1.75 for a 10 oz cup. Anyone who has bought from his truck will know the term, “smedium” defined as a medium cup with a small size snowball. 

“A lot of the people’s parents grew up with me, so, to dramatically increase prices would not seem ethical to me,” he said. “I like selling a good product at a reasonable price.”

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A true watering hole, Mr. Rob even allows customers to have tabs. For parents, it can be a lifesaver on days they forget cash or if a kid is at the pool on their own. He has a worksheet for every pool to keep track, but trusts the community. Ninety-nine percent of the time, he gets paid back. 

Core Memories 

Patti Kuhlman, who has known Mr. Rob for over 26 years, says it best. “Mr. Rob always represents simple happiness.” 

Besides Patti, Mr. Rob has served her husband and their four kids, her parents, siblings, in-laws, and anyone else who comes to visit in the summer. Plus, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School’s field day in Glen Burnie, where she used to teach and even at AACC, where she’s currently an instructor.

“When our kids were young having a snowball meant we would sit in the shade together and just be happy enjoying the day's snowball,” Patti shared. 

Patti also noted how the line at the snowball truck gave them a chance to talk to neighbors. The kids would practice their math, counting out the money they had or reading the flavors. (See again: Mr. Rob’s saint-like patience!)

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Scoop Head of Content Chelsea Harrison has fond memories of meeting Mr. Rob when she moved to Severna Park in seventh grade. She remembers how a specific type of hysteria started to break out when kids would  hear his music coming around the bend: “First, it would get really quiet while people were straining to hear the music. Then it would just be a flurry of yelling, running around, getting cash out, and begging parents to get a snowball.”

Chelsea says, “Mr. Rob makes every kid feel special. He remembers your name, your favorite flavors. It’s incredible really because he must see hundreds of kids every day.” 

She recalls something she always found especially touching was that he would throw ice down on the ground in front of the window, so the kids who forgot their flip flops wouldn’t burn their feet.

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Another longtime customer for 33 years, Christina Tribble said, “he cares about every kid he serves and even as a child you are aware of that.”

She also shared a memory that many kids – past and present – could relate to. 

“My brother said some of his favorite memories growing up were hanging onto the back of Mr. Rob's truck and talking to him and checking out the candy,” Christina said. 

Now, Christina’s husband and their three kids are also Mr. Rob’s customers. He even watched her kids perform at the Oakleigh Forest community talent show last year. 

“This year, when I asked why, he said it was because I have watched these kids grow up,” Christina said.  

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End Game

As far as retirement, no decisions have been made. He doesn’t know what he’ll be doing next year. Though, seven days a week in the heat, serving long lines of customers is grueling. 

When retirement does come, he’ll find himself golfing, camping, hiking, and traveling. 

“I hope Mr. Rob knows how much he is loved and appreciated by the community and when he talks about retiring I get so sad,” Christina began, “but then every summer when I hear his music for the first time I think, thank God we get at least one more summer with Mr. Rob.” 

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Mr. Rob noted how a lot of kids ask to take over his business. I hope that happens, and Mr. Rob trains them. But not only how to make delicious, affordable snowballs. Also, how to truly brighten someone’s day.