Farewell Speech

I was going to let AI write this speech, but I’m still filling in Excel spreadsheets with a pencil.  On my screen. Angie said she was going to have AI write her speech for today. When you care enough to send the very best.

I hope y’all don’t think I am this wise old guy. I’m still just as confused as all of you. When I started out training Angie and Rachel, the first thing I said was that I make it up as I go along. Still do. Thank you for letting me be the creepy old guy, coming at you with hot takes that everyone else already talked about for two days ago.

I appreciate all you coworkers who have helped me along the way. Hopefully at some point I’ve been able to return the favor. Have you ever had an old person in your life that will just cry all the time? It’s a medical fact. So if you see me starting to cry today, it’s just because I’m so old. Not sure what Angie’s excuse is.

I want to start by thanking the guys in the plant, who pulled and cut and shipped all the orders for me. Sure made my life easier. Thanks for showing up today. Hope I didn’t drive y’all too crazy. I tried to keep Jhannio off as many emails as I could.

Hard to believe I have known Eric McGill for 25 years. Back when he was the only outside sales guy in the South who was selling fabrication, jumping into lakes when he got a big order. That’s what Eric said, anyway.  That was back in the days before cell phones. There was a grainy black and white photo. You couldn’t tell if it was Eric or the Loch Ness Monster.

I’m honored that Shane has given me several nicknames over the years. Sergeant at Arms. Domex Dave. Double D. He’s even called me the Assassin. How cool is that? Pretty sure I got that nickname because I would get so quiet. He thought I was gonna kill someone. Really I am so quiet because it takes me so long to figure out what to say.

Several years ago Eric and Shane took over a weak Textron team and gave it a major overhaul. Best thing to happen to me at Ryerson. Surrounded me with upgrades: first Rodney and then Eric Jones. An outside sales juggernaut in Jonathan Harris, a more efficient quality guy in Alex Murch.

Eric Jones has been so much help. Lots of old employees eventually report to someone the same age as their own kids. Eric hasn’t laughed too much about my bumbling old age – to my face, anyway. It’s been Eric’s job to keep me and Brad from going postal. Eric has a batting average of 500.  Not bad.

I’ve always been a bit of a plodder, the office tortoise surrounded by a bunch of hares. I have to look at all my Textron information over and over. Each time I seem to discover something that I’d missed before. A Textron part that needs attention. That’s been the secret to my success. Quickly skimming over all the information never seemed to get the job done. I encourage Leo to keep checking back, like a video game when you know there’s hidden treasure somewhere to find – or a ticking time bomb.

Why am I leaving? It’s simple. I can’t take Angie anymore. Angie is the type woman that helps you appreciate your wife. I have no idea how I’ll be able to do anything without Angie there to keep me straight. I am going to keep on saying nice things about Angie until I make her cry. Again.

Years ago I told Rachel that one day she would run the company, and she is well on her way. She knows all the ins and outs of Textron, plus Renee’s job and Steve’s 01 stuff. Hob nobs with the assistant GM. The only thing holding her back? She’s just too nice. Doesn’t she make you sick?

I’d like to thank Christina from our vendor Collier Metals, who came out to say goodbye. If you wondered what it was that I did here, can ask Christina. Pester her.

For better or worse, Ryerson is like one big extended family. You may get along great with most of your coworkers but then there’s that creepy uncle that just drives you crazy. I know, that’s me. Some people are as quiet as a mouse and others won’t stop talking.

Steve Garrett: such a hard worker and good guy. Old school like me. I’m not much for chain saws. I’m not a do it your selfer, but I can listen to Steve hold court all day. No one on the planet has used the word  warehouse-wise more than Steve. When you look up that word in the dictionary, Steve’s picture is next to it.

I’m glad Steve tells y’all those stories about back when we had those big pricing books on our desks. Aren’t you glad I didn’t tell those same stories? The reason we have to wear hardhats out in the plant is because one time, one of those great big old pricing books fell on someone, and sent them to the hospital.

Sherryl Seigel has taken tube mill sales position up another level. I had nothing to do with this, though for the past couple of years I think we’ve been each other’s psychiatrist.  Like many of you, the diligence Sherryl brings to her job is incorporated in every area of her life, which is an example to me.

Renee:  thank you for all your help. All my time card and expense report mistakes. Thanks for the Bar B Que and cookies and everything else. It’ll be easy for me to lose some weight once I leave here. Renee thought the office would be using less printer paper after I retired, but Arrowood moved downstairs to take up my slack. Every time I retrieve something off the printer, I see three things that Dennis has printed out.

I could go on and on about you guys. But y’all need to get back to work. Thanks again for putting up with me.

Note: lots going on for the next few days. Lots of change. I have about a week's worth of pre-written, unpublished blog posts in the can, that will be posted for the next few days.