08/18/2026
Recently, the Milliken Highland plant gathered for a very special occasion. We came together to celebrate the retirement of a truly remarkable employee and colleague, and our longest tenured associate, Mr. Jimmy McMillon. Jimmy has dedicated an incredible 57 years of his life to this company.
Fifty-seven years!
It is hard to put that number into perspective. Jimmy started his career here on June 23, 1969. During those 57 years, he has seen an incredible amount of change. Our company has changed. Our products have changed. Our manufacturing processes have changed. The technology and equipment used throughout this plant have changed dramatically.
But through all of those changes, he remained a constant presence here as a member of our Maintenance Department and as a Maintenance Mechanic.
Anyone who has spent time in a manufacturing environment knows just how important that role is. When production is running smoothly, maintenance can sometimes work behind the scenes. But when a machine goes down, everyone knows exactly how important Maintenance is!
Over the course of his career, he has worked on equipment, solved problems, responded to breakdowns, performed repairs, and helped keep this plant operating. Whether it was a quick adjustment, a difficult repair, or one of those problems that seemed to have no obvious answer, he was part of the team that was called upon to figure it out.
And after 57 years, I imagine there are very few things in this plant that he hasn't seen, worked on, repaired, or at least been asked about!
A 57-year career is about more than machinery and maintenance.
It is about people. Over five decades, he has worked with generations of employees. He has seen people come into this company, build their careers, retire, and move on — while he continued to be a familiar face and an important part of the Maintenance team.
He has witnessed changes that many of us can only imagine, and he has played a part in keeping this operation moving through all of them.
One of the most valuable things that comes with a career of this length is experience.
You can't teach 57 years of experience in a classroom. You can't put it into a maintenance manual. 57 years of dedicated service is an accomplishment that deserves tremendous respect and recognition.
It represents loyalty, commitment, perseverance and it represents a significant part of someone's life dedicated to the people and the company they worked for.
So today, on behalf of the company, the Maintenance Department, your fellow employees, and everyone who has had the privilege of working with you, we want to say thank you.
Thank you for your 57 years of hard work.
Thank you for your dedication.
Thank you for the knowledge and experience you have shared.
Thank you for helping keep this plant running.
And thank you for being part of our company family for so many years.
As you begin this next chapter, I hope retirement gives you the opportunity to enjoy the things that may have had to wait while you were working — spending more time with family and friends, pursuing hobbies and interests, traveling, relaxing, and simply enjoying having somewhere to be without having to worry about what time the shift starts!
After 57 years, you've certainly earned that.
Very few people will ever have the opportunity to say they spent 57 years with one company. Even fewer can look back and say they helped keep that company's operation running for generation after generation. You have earned our respect, our appreciation, and our sincere gratitude.
So, on behalf of all of us, congratulations on an incredible career.
Thank you for 57 years of service, dedication, and commitment.
We wish you a very happy and well-deserved retirement, good health, happiness, and many wonderful years ahead.
And now, it's time to retire the tools, hang up the work boots, and officially let someone else worry about that next breakdown!
Congratulations, and thank you for everything you have done here. Enjoy your retirement!
