Pee Paw Worked at Gulf States

I thought I may have posted this photo before, but I could find no evidence of it.  It’s hard to remember which photos I’ve actually posted on here after I’ve shared over 250 photos and/or stories.  There are hundreds of other photos that I’ve considered posting and sometimes I think I’ve actually used them when I haven’t. 

I got this photo from Uncle A. J. a few years ago.  It didn’t have any identifying information written on it, but that was okay.  I already had the information about the photo.  It was published in a Gulf States Utilities May 1957 newsletter called ‘Plain Talks’ and it was captioned, “R. J. Landry  received his 40-year pin at the banquet held in Lake Charles this month.”  He was the only one receiving the 40 year pin that year.  That’s why he is alone in the photo.  There were 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year pins given out, as well.  Those were given out in groups.  Pee Paw was the top of the heap with his 40 years of service!

The other man in this photo was in all of the photos.  I didn’t know who he was, but then I noticed he was in another photo honoring two members from Beaumont who also received 40-year pins.  In that photo he is identified as President Nelson.  He must have been the president of Gulf States Utilities at the time.

Forty years is a long time to work for one company.  And all they got was a little pin?  I say that now, but my dad had a few Reddy Kilowatt pins in his chest of drawers when we were kids.  I always thought it was kinda cool.  “Who is Reddy Kilowatt?” you asked.  He was the cartoon spokesman for Gulf States back in the day.  His body was made up of red lightning bolts.  And my grandfather knew him personally!  At least he got a few pins from his years of service at that company.  Of course he was probably paid pretty well and most of those companies had a good retirement plan for their dedicated employees.

Pee Paw did not benefit from that retirement plan.  Ironically, in that same May 1957 newsletter, there was an article that warned about the signs of a heart attack.  On the opposite side of another photo of Pee Paw showing the 40 year employees, the article was titled “Have a Heart to Heart Talk With Yourself.”  I wonder if recently-turned 64-year-old  Rob Landry had a heart to heart talk with himself?  If he did, it doesn’t seem to have helped.  He died from a heart attack on August 28, 1957.

So this is one of the last photos of my paternal grandfather.  It’s nice that they recognized his dedication to their company.  I don’t even know if he retired.  I’ve always heard about people who retire and then die shortly afterwards, but I don’t recall that being the case for my grandfather.  I’m sure one of my older cousins will help me out with that piece of information. (I was right, cousin Kenny said that he died just as he was about to retire.)  They might even share a photo of a Reddy Kilowatt pin.  (My sister Jamie shared the photo of a pin she has.)  Pee Paw died before I was born, so I was never able to ask him any questions about his life.  I think I missed out on knowing a good man.