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Friday, January 23, 2009

Thirty-five Years

We went to the company Christmas banquet last evening. Yes, it's nearly a month after Christmas, but we have enough going on during December and I'm glad they always have it in January. The awards for years of service are given at this annual banquet. This year there were several who got awards for five years, one person has been there ten years, and one for thirty years.
Leroy reached the 35 year mark last March and was due for an award. Since he is there longer than any other employee, there is no precedent and we never know what they might give. When he was called up, Ira handed him a framed certificate. From past experience, we sort of figured there would be more than that but ok. Ira asked Leroy to tell some stories of how things were when he started hanging doors in 1973. After that, Ira handed him another gift which turned out to be a John Deere version of Monopoly and a pack of "Johnny Pop" popcorn. I still thought that was sorta cheesy. It's special because it is John Deere, but neither of us are game players.
Finally, Ira handed Leroy the "real" gift, a Precision 1937-38 John Deere B model. He only had the one end opened when his eyes got big, his mouth dropped open, and he said, "Precision!" That one word told me what it was. Precision models are very detailed and very expensive. The little pedals move, the steering wheel turns, etc. He has always drooled over them but was too tight to fork over the money to own one. Now he does!
So if you would like to have a Precision John Deere, now you know. Work at Shank Door for 35 years and you'll get a free one.

2 comments:

Gene and Amy Stauffer said...

Show the rest of the plaque!

Hee hee

Scribbler said...

Across the bottom it says, "And all I got was this lousy plaque." If I showed that and the tractor it would be contradictory.