It started with a seemingly innocuous photograph.

When Daniel Gastelu, a 93-year-old retired Ford truck salesman, chose a navy blazer he hadn't worn in 15 years for a recent family gathering, he likely had no idea that a snapshot his son took and sent to Ford would eventually land on our radar.

But it did. Intrigued by the sharp-dressed gentleman and the history at which his jacket hinted, we delved into the story of a remarkable career that spanned nearly three decades and a lifetime of loyalty to the Blue Oval.

Daniel’s journey with Ford began in 1969 at Pasquin Ford in Rutherford, New Jersey, a dealership that had just opened its doors. For nearly three decades, he sold light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks, a career for which he seemed destined.

“I always wanted to sell trucks and cars,” he said. “The dealership was brand new. They took me on, trained me as a truck salesman, and I did that for almost 30 years.”

His sales career began modestly with the sale of an E-100 and culminated decades later with a truly impressive deal: a fleet of 20 LNT-8000s destined for Saudi Arabia.

Among his many accolades, one achievement stands out: earning the title of Grand Master Sales Counselor through Ford’s Professional Sales Counselor (PSC) program.

Established in 1975, the PSC program was Ford Division’s rigorous system for recognizing its top salespeople. Points were meticulously tallied for every sale — from 2.5 for a used car to a hefty 8 for a heavy-duty truck. Professional Sales Counselor status required 300 or 500 points, Master Sales Counselor 800.

But Daniel surpassed 1,500 points in a single calendar year, a feat that crowned him the top truck salesman in the entire Northeast United States.

The culmination of his efforts came at the Concord Resort Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York.

“They had a ceremony initiating me into the Professional Sales Counselor club,” he said with pride. “I was the only one on the east coast at that time.”

For Daniel, receiving the navy sport coat — emblazoned with the PSC crest — and a gold and white sapphire ring was akin to a professional golfer earning a green jacket. He has kept the jacket and ring, reminders of a career defined by excellence.

Beyond individual sales, Daniel understood the power of community and connection. He helped found the Garden State Truck Club, a monthly gathering of local truck salesmen who, despite their professional rivalries, came together for dinners, supplier presentations, and camaraderie.

“We had competition,” he said, “but it was a fair game” among the Ford salespeople.

The Grand Master title wasn't an anomaly. Daniel would go on to earn three more gold rings, alongside a collection of gold tie tacks and a wall adorned with plaques, each a testament to his sustained success.

More than accolades, his decades-long career provided a good life for his wife and three sons. And even at 93, Daniel Gastelu remains an unwavering advocate for the brand that defined his professional life.

“I believe we had the strongest truck on the market,” he said. “And still do.”

Leslie Armbruster is lead archivist at Ford.