A Birthday Letter - Workday Wednesday

On February 24, 1956, D. G. Baxter, General Superintendent of Copperweld Steel in Warren, Ohio, sent my father, Lee Doyle, a birthday letter.  Dad had been an employee of Copperweld for 15 or more years.  On February 27 that year Dad turned 43.  Did the superintendent send all employees birthday letters?  Considering that the greeting is not personalized I think it's possible.  It still surprises me that my mother saved both the letter and the envelope.

It reads,

Dear Copperwelder:

As we advance in age I would like to pass along my formula for life which is to keep busy so that the years go by unnoticed.  To despise nothing except selfishness, meanness and corruption; Covet nothing that is my neighbor's except his kindness of heart and his gentleness of spirit; Think many times of my friends and seldom of my enemies.  So long as I can work and enjoy the kind words of approval of my associates and the warm handclasp of the younger generation, I see no reason why everyday should not be as much of a challenge to a man of ninety as to a man of thirty.  As I see it, age is not a question of years...it is a state of mind.  You are as young as your faith.

On this birthday may I add my personal wish for your health, long life and happiness.

The letter makes me wonder how old D. G. Baxter was.

This is nearly the end of the Copperweld posts.  Floating around somewhere are several photographs of my father with some of his coworkers.  When I can put my hands on them (or my mouse), I'll post those.

--Nancy.

Copyright © 2009-2015 Nancy Messier. All Rights Reserved.
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