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- Description:
- Noel Johnson recalls his career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI, from 1958 to 1975. Johnson describes his youth and early jobs and the variety of positions he held at REO and says with pride that Diamond-REO trucks were virtually handmade. He also talks about REO's merger with White Motors, Francis Cappaert’s purchase of the company and the final, painful bankruptcy. He says that he was retained by the company to finish the last military truck orders and was there when the gates were closed for good. The interviewer is Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
- Date Issued:
- 2004-10-13T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Willie recounts his youth in Mississippi, his service in the U.S. Army in Korea, and being hired at Fisher in December 1954. He describes the jobs blacks were placed on, discrimination, and being denied an apprenticeship. He comments on millwright work, family, neighborhood, and retirement.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-01-30T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Louis Garcia discusses his career as an assembly worker, press operator, and manager at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc, in Lansing, Mi, between 1946 and 1975. Garcia talks about his Hispanic heritage and his childhood spent as a migrant farm worker. He says that in his early years at REO he was singled out and "tested" by other workers and management because of his ethnicity, but still excelled in the workplace, becoming a journeyman and later a supervisor. Garcia also talks about Francis Cappaert’s ownership of REO, the company bankruptcy, loss of the worker pension fund, the final days of plant operations, and employee depression and suicide. Interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-01-28T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Andy talks about being raised in Brooklyn, NY, attending Penn State, having his own business, and being hired in 1976 at a GM bearing plant in New Jersey. Andy talks about coming to Lansing Oldsmobile in 1982 and moving to Fisher in 1991. He describes his experiences as a maintenance supervisor and planner, relations with the UAW, and his thoughts about General Motors.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-12-05T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Eileen Nortman talks about her brief tenure at the REO Motor Car Company in Lansing, MI. Nortman describes growing up in Williamston, Mi, starting at REO in 1943, at the age of 17 and leaving in 1945 to join the Navy. She talks about shop conditions, her jobs at REO, car-pooling, gas rationing, and women working in the plant, and how she and other women got along with male employees. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1993-01-28T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Sam recounts being born in Little Rock, AR, graduating high school in Kansas City, MO. and being hired at Fisher in February 1969. Sam describes the Body Shop as hot, dirty, and smoky. By contrast Sam says Trim Shop was paradise. He was drafted into U.S. Army after three months at Fisher and accrued seniority while he served. Sam talks about his union involvement, Black Men in Unions, service as Recreation and Conservation chair, and the Local 602 picnic.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-01-09T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Tom talks about his life prior to Fisher Body, growing up in Detroit, being hired in August 1978 and going to the Body Shop. Tom tells of deciding early he wanted to be in trades. He talks about his apprenticeship, women in trades, safety lockout, chemicals, duties in the powerhouse, relations with managers and his union activity. Tom comments on Lansing's success, people's attitude and talent.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-11-10T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Dick talks about being raised on a farm and being hired in May 1955 while on strike at REO Motor Works. He describes being scared and lost on the first day and finding the work "back breaking." Dick talks about having lead poisoning, the swing shift, commuting, pranks, long hours, and unemployment. He describes his union activity working his way up from committeeman to Bargaining Chair to local union President. Dick talks about meeting Walter Reuther and going to Black Lake.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-04-25T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Bill Myers talks about his career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI, from 1963 to 1975. Myers discusses his youth and early jobs before coming to REO, and describes how officers from the Detroit Arsenal would come to the plant to talk about military vehicle specifications during the war years. Meyers also talks about how he was recruited, with other REO employees to go to the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA), Lansing's transit system, as REO declined. He comments on legendary REO manger Clare Loudenslager’s style at REO and later at CATA and says that REO was a great place to work. The interviewer is Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
- Date Issued:
- 2004-06-24T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Dick Trierweiler talks about his career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc, in Lansing, MI, from 1960 to 1975. Trierweiler describes his youth, early jobs, hiring into REO, and the jobs he held with the company, including test driving trucks. Trierweiler tells of his struggles to earn an engineering degree while working full-time and later becoming a Technical Service manager and engineering trouble-shooter. The interviewer is Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
- Date Issued:
- 2004-05-04T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection