"Thanks for the note (in FridayMusings) on the start of our 65th year.
"Our theme is LXV and it will be a year-long celebration where we will give our employees reminders of the fact that this is our 65th year in business.
Here is the speech that was given by Chuck Dardas to the employee gathering last week:
Let’s talk about 1957.
I was 4 years old! The minimum wage was $1 Average rent was $90 a month. A new house cost $12,000. Gas was 24 cents. 45 RPM Record was 79 cents. The average wage was $4,550 per year. Elvis Presley purchased a Memphis Mansion (Graceland). The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool. Wham-O releases Stan Tilinan’s Golf Disc. Gunsmoke was on TV. Russia launches Sputnik. Toyota starts selling cars in the US. Mackinaw Bridge is open.
Famous Birthdays: Gloria Estafan, Steve Harvey, Vanna White, Bernie Mack, Bret The Hit Man Heart, Katie Couric.
Top Ten Baby Names: Mary, Michael, Susan, James, Linda, David, Debra, Robert, Karen, John.
Man of the Year in Time Magazine: Nikita Kruschev
Second Inauguration of Dwight David Eisenhower
LXV: Superbowl fans may recognize the format. In Roman Numerals “L” means 50. Also “XV” means 15. So “LXV” is 65
Today is our 64th birthday. But - birthdays are actually anniversaries. This means we have completed 64 years. So this is the kick-off to a very important year for us. Our 65th!
Three Score and Four Years Ago, George Strumbos had the courage, foresight, and grit to start a new company that we now work for. This company provides us, and our families income, benefits, and home while we are away from our family homes.
We are now engaged in an interesting societal and challenging battle of the wills with our global neighbors as well as here at home testing what Mr. Strumbos set forth for us can long endure. Our purpose is to assure that destiny.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here today, but it can never be forgotten what the Strumbos family has provided to us.
It is for us to dedicate ourselves to this unfinished work, the great task before us, to continue to advance our company to its rightful place in the industry and to assure our Founding Father, and his family, that we are eternally grateful and will succeed, with great pride, in accomplishing what he felt we are destined to achieve.