Progress Reports: GE Retirees
Remember When…
In honor of Ronald Reagan’s contributions to GE and our employees from 1954 through 1962, we asked our retirees to step back in time and share their memories with us. From escorting Ronald Reagan on a tour of a GE plant to watching him tell the GE story on television every Sunday night, our retirees had fond memories to share about Ronald Reagan’s time as a company ambassador and host of GE Theater.
Here’s some of what they had to say:
“It was in 1956 when I decided to join the community relations office of Pittsfield GE. My first day on the job I was instructed not to report to the plant, but meet a handful of GE managers at the then Hotel Wendell for breakfast. We would be spending the day with Ronald Reagan as he toured our plant and the day would begin with breakfast with Reagan. With about eight of us around the breakfast table, I was sitting immediately on Reagan’s left…What a fun way for me to begin my 30 year GE career.”
– Larry Vaber
“In 1959 Ronald Reagan was on tour for GE. I was based in Elmira, New York, as a sales person for GE Lighting. Ronald Reagan was coming to Elmira for a day in 1959 in the summer months. The Plant Manager asked if I would meet him at the airport and escort him for the day. It was a GREAT day in my life for he was so impressive as a speaker and his conservatism meshed so wonderfully with mine. From that day forward I became a follower and contributor to every election he ran, for Governor and for President. A GREAT American he was!”
– Walter J. Buckert
“I think I saw every GE theater episode through 1959 when I graduated from high school and headed to The University of SC. I was determined to get a EE degree and go to work for GE. Ronald Reagan inspired me to that. I did a US Air Force tour during the Vietnam Conflict and in 1969 went to work for GE LSTG Charleston, SC (15 years) and retired with GE Aircraft Engines, Madisonville, KY in 2000. When Ronald became president I continually told my children and others who did not remember about the powerful spokesman Ronald was for General Electric via the GE Theater. My hope and prayer is that GE will hold to Ronald Reagan’s values and continue to be a leader.”
– James Lovingood
“When I was a young girl, my mother, Julie MacQueen, worked for General Electric Product Service. She was very proud of working for GE and every Sunday night we would watch GE Theater. At the end of the broadcast, Ronald Reagan always said, “At General Electric, Progress is Our Most Important Product.” That was the signal for me to get ready for school the next day and go to bed. Years later when I too joined the GE family and Ronald Reagan became our President, Mom and I would sometimes joke and say, “WOW, a fellow co-worker did quite well for himself” (and the country as well).”
– Diane MacQueen
Are you a GE retiree with a Ronald Reagan story to share? E-mail it to reagan@ge.com or record your memory on the GE Storyline by calling +1 203 944 3007.
Ronald Reagan visited the General Electric’s Control Plant in Bloomington, Illinois in the late 1950s. Photo submitted by GE retiree Robert D. Malinowski (shown just behind Ronald Reagan’s left shoulder).
Readers’ Comments
D Wars | Posted on March 17, 2010 at 1:47 pm
So… if he learned everything he knew about running the country on GE’s payroll, did that include Iran/Contra, trickle down economics that hugely increased the national debt, and demagoguery on health care calling those in favor of reform communists in the height of the red-baiting era (film of which is being used by those who today are fighting to keep reform from happening). And remember, he was FIRED as company spokesman for being too political in his company appearances. No thanks. Money not wisely spent. Unless you really need to show conservative bone fides.
Chris | Posted on March 23, 2010 at 4:09 pm
D Wars, I debated whether or not to respond to your comments but finally decided somebody should. No mortal being is perfect — and you have pointed out what you feel were Ronald Reagan’s imperfections. I can only say this to you with true sincerity. No president has ever accomplished so much good for this nation than Ronald Reagan. He brought us back from the brink of economic collapse, ended the nightmarish cold war, and restored hope not just to Americans but to liberty-loving people all over the world. In a very real way, he did for oppressed people around the globe what Abraham Lincoln did for oppressed people in America. To be sure, we live in a fallen world that makes it impossible for any nation or it’s leaders to ever achieve perfection. But for a brief shining moment, we came so very close. It can and will happen again, too. I can only encourage you to fight against the natural cynicism that grips us all from time to time. Reagan gave us a glimpse of what we Americans are capable of when we “put our minds to it.” Let’s remember that as we look to the future…
Skip Davis | Posted on March 24, 2010 at 9:02 pm
This is a wonderful tribute to a great man. I had the privilege of casting my first vote at age 18 for President Reagan, and then served under his command in the USAF. Wish he were still here. I hope there are more postings by those who knew him at GE.