Hull retires after 47 years at Peerless

Saturday, May 1, 2010
Joe Hull, at a reception in honor of his retirement after 50 years of service at Peerless Products, Fort Scott. --submitted photo

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- A local resident has called it quits after nearly 50 years working for the same company.

Joe Hull had been one of the most consistent aspects to the operation of Peerless Products. In a time when many people work for a company for a few years, Hull stayed with his first job for 47 years.

Hull was 18 years old and living in Belltown when Pete Lawson set up a meeting between Hull and then-plant manager Lealand Moorehouse. All it took was that one meeting for Hull to get the job.

"He talked to me a little bit, he got me an application, he hired me, and I've been there ever since," Hull said.

Now, 65 years old, Hull left his job as the press packaging manager Thursday. Hull worked his way up, starting as a glazer when the only product the company produced was storm windows. He worked his was through the plant working in assembly, glass cutting, and inventory management. Hull said although some jobs were difficult, he enjoyed his time with the company.

"There have been a lot of good things," he said.

Many things had changed while Hull was on the job. Hull was on his way home when the original plant location burned to the ground after a cigarette caught a pile of paper scraps on fire in 1963.

"By the time I got home, they called me back and said the place was on fire ... and it burnt to the ground," he said.

Hull said the money had changed as well.

"I made $1.10 per hour back then," he said. "You would take home $35 a week ... and you still had money."

Technology was the biggest change Hull witnessed on the job.

"Back then we didn't have computers ... and now they can't do anything without a computer," he said.

With more free time on his hands, Hull said he plans to expand his own business repairing storm windows. In addition he and his wife, Myrtle, plan to spend their time camping and gardening.

"We bought ourselves a little 19-foot camper, we're just going to take that and just go camping," he said.

Peerless Products is not the only long-term commitment Hull had in his life. Many of the older coworkers frequently introduced Hull to new employees by saying, "he's had the same job for 47 years, the same wife for 47 years, and the same truck for 47 years."

"As a matter of fact, one of the aerial photos of the plant in the front office, my truck is in it ... I still got it," he said.