Ever since moving to Greenwood from West Memphis, Arkansas, with his parents and grandparents when he was 4 years old, Rob Faulkner has called the area home.
A passionate amateur grillmaster and a lifelong fan of the Ole Miss Rebels — both habits Faulkner picked up largely from his father, Keith — Faulkner said he enjoys spending much of his time off work with his family.
Faulkner’s family relocated to Greenwood in 1975 when his father and grandfather — the late Mel Faulkner — opened K&M Auto Parts on Main Street.
Starting as a part-time worker at the store when he was still in high school, Rob Faulkner went to work full-time for his family’s business when he graduated from Pillow Academy in 1989. He worked alongside his parents, grandparents and younger brother John for 22 years.
He has since transitioned to a new position with Scott Petroleum in the last year and a half, where he’s been working as a purchasing manager and in inventory control.
Some of his most vivid memories growing up were of heading up to Oxford to watch Ole Miss football games with his family — something Faulkner said he did so often that, for years as a kid, “I used to think they couldn’t kick off until I was there.”
He’s continued to follow the Rebels closely in football, basketball and baseball and has hit the road on more than one occasion to see the team play — in South Bend, Indiana; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; and Knoxville, Tennessee.
He also inherited his father’s passion and knack for cooking. “That’s just one of the things we did, cook,” he said.
With a particular talent behind the grill, Faulkner said he was able to perfect some of his techniques for cooking meat by watching the chefs when he worked part-time as a waiter at Giardina’s Restaurant.
According to friend Steve Kelly, Faulkner’s interest and effort in the kitchen has really paid off.
“The bottom line is the man can cook the best steak you’ve ever had,” Kelly said.
Living in Mississippi, Faulkner said he’s often asked whether he’s related to William Faulkner. He said it’s doubtful, especially considering that the great novelist changed the spelling of his surname from “Falkner.”
When he’s not working, Faulkner loves to spend time with his family: his wife, Allison; a 6-year-old daughter, Lenora; an 18-year-old son, Taylor; and a 16-year-old stepson, Zane.
Time with the family can prove plenty entertaining. His wife’s band, The Firm, rehearses regularly and plays shows across the Delta and his daughter is a bundle of energy.
With his parents, in-laws and friends all in Greenwood, Faulkner said he’s never really considered living anywhere else.
“I enjoy going to the grocery store, seeing everyone else,” Faulkner said. “It’s just home.”
• Contact Bryn Stole at 581-7235 or bstole@gwcommonwealth.com.
