By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer
GEFCO has something few other business can claim, two employees who have spent almost their entire working lives — more than 50 years each — at the company.
Albert Washburn began working for GEFCO July 24, 1959. He currently works in the maintenance department.
“I started in the machine shop,” he said. “In about ’74, I transferred to maintenance. I repair anything that breaks down. I work on doors, plumbing, overhead cranes, air conditioning.”
Washburn began working for GEFCO immediately after he graduated from Enid High School.
“I started here right out of high school. I took three years of machine shop in high school,” she aid.
Washburn said the man who taught him machine shop in high school also worked at GEFCO when he was not teaching.
“We’ve seen lots of changes,” Washburn said.
Mark Winebrenner began working for GEFCO Oct. 10, 1956. He now is plant manager, but also began in the machine shop.
“I started out in the machine shop,” he said. “I worked for six or seven years as a dispatcher. Then after six or seven years it was the whole shop.”
Winebrenner said the change in work has helped keep the job enjoyable.
“From day one there has been change. You never get bored,” Winebrenner said. “We’ve enjoyed our tenure here.”
Aaron Harmon, president of GEFCO, said spending a person’s entire working life at one company is unusual but appreciated.
“It is hard to imagine spending basically your whole professional life at one place,” he said. “The loyalty and dedication they give this company is unusual and very much appreciated.
“They’ve seen plant changes, ownership changes and accomplishments this great company has seen. We hope it has been a good time for everyone.”
GEFCO, which stands for George E. Failing Co., is a world leader in design and manufacture of portable drilling rigs and related equipment for the water well, environmental, groundwater monitoring, construction, mining, shallow oil and gas exploration and production industries.
The company, headquartered in Enid, was established in 1931 by George E. Failing and manufactures Failing, SpeedStar and King Oil Tools equipment. The company has sold and delivered equipment in nearly 100 countries.
Facilities in Enid include a fully integrated machine shop, fabrication and weld shop, assembly, painting and testing.
GEFCO is a division of Blue Tee Corp., an employee-owned company.
