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by: Erin Smith
A group of about 100 retirees gathered at Specialty Product Technologies on Friday morning for a retirees luncheon. The luncheon was an opportunity to reunite employees who were instrumental in the plant’s opening.
The plant originally opened as Veeder-Root in Elizabethtown in 1965. Some of the original employees included, Hilda Priest, Bernadine Bell, Vollie Coleman, Lucille Andrews, Roy McKeithan, Howard Johnson, Harold C. Davis, Wayne Watts, Luther Melvin, Houston Hester, and Jessie Thomas.
Carolyn Lewis, who helped to organize the reunion, said the company came to Elizabethtown in the 1960s and set up shop in a modest space in the basement of the Bladen County Courthouse. Lewis said it soon moved into “Green’s building” which is located across from Burger King and eventually to its current location at 2100 West Broad Street.
When asked about organizing the reunion, Lewis said, “They are all my family.”
Lewis said an employee reunion of this nature has not been attempted in the past. She felt it was important to have a gathering of past employees.
Lewis worked at the company for 44 years and saw it go through many changes.
“I just liked my work. I still come out and help sometimes,” said Lewis.
SPT Plant Manager Andrew McCauley said when Lewis approached him about plans for the reunion, she proposed conducting it at a local church. McCauley said Lewis asked him if the company would consider a sponsorship of the event.
“To me, they needed to come home (to the plant),” said McCauley.
So plans began being made to hold the reunion in the canteen of the plant. Festivities for the day included a photograph on the front steps of the building, a luncheon, a memorial service in honor of those retirees who had passed away, tours of the plant, an ice cream social, and door prizes. Lewis was recognized for her efforts to organize the event.
McCauley told the former employees that when he was beginning his career, the Elizabethtown plant was “the gold standard” within the company.
Former Plant Manager Joe Thompson also spoke. He said the growth which took place at Danaher was “unique.”
Don Carlyle read the scripture from Revelations 14:13 in memory of those retirees who had passed away and a moment of silence was held.
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