Yesterday was a giant day in our family.

I pushed myself away from the office desk one last time at 11:00 a.m.

The cubicles and office spaces were evacuated as the entire department crossed through the engineering shop and made ways to the return center.

Many kind hands set up the tables and chairs and arranged the flowers and refreshments.

My family joined me at the head table.

Turns were taken for memories and farewells and then they gave the floor to me.

I did my best to lace a few minutes together with whys and wherefores about how I wound up at the company.

My lovely wife Debra encouraged me for years, patiently but repeatedly, at appropriate intervals, “You should get a job at Freightliner.” I resisted stubbornly. I was a poet, you see—not a truck builder!

As she does with astounding regularity, Debra proved right. I finally began my job in the warranty department of Freightliner in January, 1999 at the age of forty-nine.

Over 17-years, we tackled big challenges, suffered tragic losses, and reveled in our successes. We swam in oceans of opportunity to make improvements.

I was so happy to tell the assembly the truth in my secret heart—you mean so much to me! I gave high praise to my management teams, and I confessed my endless debt of friendship to a great many co-workers.

Well, now my career is over. I tried to leave a favorable footprint where I had gone.

I’m eternally grateful to the people who hired me, the people who sat beside me, those who guided me and those whom I had the pleasure of leading.

To everyone at Freightliner, now Daimler Trucks North America[1], thanks for having me! You are superior. And the company is getting better, too, because of you!


Photo by Matt K.: Old Timmy Boy surrounded by the ones who make me proud—Cait, Deb, Kristina and Gus. Thanks for being there!

[1] For a great place to work, see: http://www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com/