Dodgen Industries employees reunite
This group of former Dodgen Industries employees gathered for a reunion on Aug. 17 at Rutland to look back on the company’s 48-year run which ended in 2017. Pictured above, front row (l-r): Dennis Day, Kallie Davis, Lori Eastman, Jerry Barta, Linda Illg and Barb Boyington. Middle row: Brandon Dodgen, Tracey Roder, Julie Day, Linda Studer, Paula Dahl, Craig Stewart, Kim McKibban, Steve Illg and Ken Schriber. Back row: Kenny Day, Brian Wright, John Eastman, Jeff Fischer, Doug Boyington, Brad Cooke and Kim Olson. Independent photo.
By PHIL MONSON
Dodgen Industries was a manufacturing staple in Humboldt for many years – 48 to be exact. The company made many products, including the high-quality Born Free Motorcoach until the company ceased to exist in 2017.
Last Saturday (Aug. 17) at Rutland City Hall, employees of the company gathered to look back on the company’s run and renew friendships and work acquaintances.
“I worked 41 years and my last title was vice-president of the commercial division,” said Dennis Day, one of the organizers of the event.
“Three of our former employees contacted each other and wanted to get together and have a reunion of employees. The company closed in 2017 and these folks have gone on to other jobs and careers and some of us retired. We wanted to catch up on everybody since we worked together for a long time,” Day said.
“There are people here that I haven’t seen since 2016 when I retired. We had one gentleman and his wife who came from South Dakota and we had another gentleman who came from Charles City,” Day said. “Otherwise, most of these folks are from the Humboldt area.”
“The biggest takeaway I’ve gotten from today is the loyalty these people had for the company. Some showed up wearing their Born Free shirts and others brought in their Born Free memorabilia,” Day said. “We’ve got photos and newspaper copies of the past that everyone has been looking through.”
“Everyone here has been talking about the past and reminiscing about the work we have done and our fellow workers who have passed away,” Day said.
Day says another reunion will take place at some point in the future.
“We have a lot of friends who had prior commitments so they were not able to be here today. Next time we’ll try to play it out further in advance so more people can come,” Day said.
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