Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The Budd Blogger Has A New Job

The Budd Blogger, aka Manager of Communications for The Budd Company for nearly 30 years, has a new job. He is doing something that anyone at Budd can relate to. Want to find out what it is? E-mail him with your comments on Budd and what you are doing now. He will be glad to tell you.

The Budd Blogger

Lynne Miller-Hatter Wants to Know About You

Hello, Budd family. My name is Lynne Miller-Hatter. While I had several
years with Budd-Clinton before it's closure, I landed at Budd-Shelbyville
shortly before the plant opened, joining the Materials Dept. Never had I
worked so hard or had so much fun (kudos to Dick LaFeir who was my boss and
mentor for many of my years at Budd.) The Shelbyville Plant was truly one
of a kind; the culture was so much different than Budd-Clinton! We all
felt really part of the plant and wanted it to succeed, which it surely did!

However, nothing is forever, and I retired in 2001 as things began to
change, moving to Angola, Indiana a few years thereafter. I often wonder
where all my friends landed and hope they are all doing well. Perhaps I
will hear of some of them in Paul's blog. I drove past the Thyssen-Krupp
headquarters last week and really felt a pang of regret as Budd is no longer
on their neon sign. Very sad indeed. The best of luck to all of the Budd
family everywhere!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

ELAINE PIERCE - Part of The Budd Tradition

PAUL, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS A GREAT TRIBUTE TO BUDD AND TO IT'S PEOPLE!

MY FATHER, DAN LEDWIN, OWNER OF PULLMAN SALES & ENGINEERING & PULLMAN INDUSTRIES, HAD YEARS OF BUSINESS DEALINGS WITH BUDD, AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE FINEST AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY AROUND, BOTH IN QUALITY PRODUCTION, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS!

WHEN MY HUSBAND, TERRY PIERCE, BEGAN TO WORK FOR BUDD, MY FATHER WAS VERY PROUD THAT HE WAS WORKING FOR THIS COMPANY, AS HE FELT THERE WAS NO FINER COMPANY TO WORK FOR.

TERRY SPENT MANY YEARS WORKING FOR WHAT HE CONSIDERED THE BEST PEOPLE AND THE BEST COMPANY IN HIS LONG AND VALUED YEARS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY!

AS WE MANY TIMES SAY TO EACH OTHER--WE MAY ALL HAVE SEEN THE BEST OF WHAT THERE WAS IN THIS INDUSTRY. WE MAY NEVER SEE THESE GLORY YEARS AGAIN, SADLY.

HOPEFULLY, MARTINREA AND THEIR PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE THE LONG AND RICH HERITAGE THAT IS BUDD, AND APPRECIATE THEIR ACQUISITION.

ELAINE PIERCE

Elaine,

The Budd Company was more than a company...it was a culture. Thanks for your comments.

The Budd Blogger

Bill Okamoto -- Life After Budd

Hi:

I have noticed that Paul Flancbaum has created a Budd Co. blog, so I will take advantage of it and tell you where I am. I am Bill Okamoto formerly of the Corporate Offices. I retired after over 42 years with the Company. I started at the Red Lion Plant, Railway Division in 1948 – I was transferred back and forth between the Red Lion Plant and the Philadelphia Plant. When the corporate offices moved from the Philadelphia Plant to Troy, MI I was transferred to the Philadelphia Plant and made part of the move to Troy. I retired in 1990 and enjoyed being part of The Budd Company during those years – I made many friends in every location of the Company. I had a son that also worked at the Philadelphia Plant, but had an unfortunate accidental death while he was in the Philadelphia area. My wife died in 1985 after we had relocated and built our home on 20 acres in Goodrich, MI. I still have 3 sons, a daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren residing in Michigan.



After retirement, I moved to Fairfield Glade, TN where I met a wonderful woman who became my wife. We moved to Florida and built three large homes there, but unfortunately she passed away from Melanoma cancer. I then moved back to Fairfield Glade, TN but encountered several health problems – including a coma. I reasoned that if I were to be stricken with a coma again, I would be better off living near my family; therefore, I have purchased a Condo in Troy, MI. My only problem is that the real estate market in Tennessee is absolutely flat and I desire to sell my home here prior to moving back to Troy.



So that brings you up to date with a former Budd Company employee – and I wish to extend my greetings to the many friends and acquaintances that I had made through The Budd Company and Thyssen Krupp.



Bill Okamoto

Life After Budd -- Hank Adamek

Hello: I thought I would see if I can get the Ball rolling from the Philly Gang. I'm Hank Adamek an X-Millwright from the Phoenix Building.I retired after 42 Years.
I'm presently living in Cape May,NJ
Love it here.
We have an E-mail Directory if Anyone is interested can contact Me at- hjca1941@yahoo.com
I'll be glad to add or send a copy of the Directory.
There is Life after Budd and its GREAT.
All My Best,
Hank

Monday, August 13, 2007

Life After Budd -- What are you doing now?

In all my years with The Budd Company, one thing was constant. Virtually every time someone left, retired, was fired or otherwise detached from The Budd Company, he or she always landed upright and ended up happier, stronger or better positioned in the workplace.

That's not to say Budd was not a great place to work. In fact, the opposite is true. But what it did give us all is a solid foundation from which to launch a post-Budd existence.

There are only about six people remaining at Budd (ThyssenKrupp Budd) and that number will be zero by year's end.

So most of us are post-Budd. What are you doing now? Tell us about your post-Budd experience.

The Budd Blogger

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Want to post a blog?? It's easy!

There are two types of people who are associated with The Budd Company. Those who either worked for the company (or are related to someone who did) and those who appreciate what this great American company did for the transportation industry in its 94-year history. I guess some people fall into both categories.

Whatever type you are, you are welcome to post on this blog. If you want to post, but don't want to join Google, then just send your blog to go2paulf@gmail.com

It will be copied into BuddCompany Blogger verbatim, giving you credit.

Thanks for participating.

The Budd Company Blogger

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Ideas for Budd Company Blogs

Hi,

As this is a new site, your ideas are welcome.

Please let us know what subjects you wish to discuss, how the site should look, any thoughts you might have. You can e-mail The Budd Blogger at go2paulf@gmail.com

The Budd Company created a culture rich with tradition and history.

Let's share it.

Thanks,

The Budd Blogger

Budd Company Blogs -- The Beginning

Welcome to Budd Company Blogs,

Today is August 2, 2007. It marks the beginning of Budd Company Blogs. This site was created for anyone with an association to The Budd Company, its history, products, services. If you are visiting, you can appreciate Budd's identity as a great American company whose contribution to the transportation industry will impact us forever.

Feel free to make any comments, observations, or remarks whatever your connection to Budd, but please use diligence and good judgment when posting.

Thank you for participating.

The Budd Company Blogger