43
Canfield Coating celebrates a dedicated worker
By Kalea Hall
CANFIELD
On Sept. 21, 1965, Richard Moore – known to everyone as “Dick” – had just started work at Canfield Coating Co.
He had no idea he would continue to work at that same plant for the next 50 years.
“It’s always been a good place to work,” Moore said. “I get along with everyone.”
Moore, 75, of Green Township was honored by his co-workers and family Monday for his 50-year career at the steel-processing company on West Main Street.
Workers filed in a conference room to talk about Moore – affectionately known as the “dinosaur”– aka the guy who knows it all, the guy who answers the call at 1 a.m., and the guy who fixes what needs fixed.
“Dick can work here as long he wants,” said Patrick Murley, chief executive officer of New Star Metals, which owns Canfield Coating. “It’s guys like him who made America great. People who give their heart and soul to a company.”
After serving two years in the Army, Moore worked at a local factory but got laid off in 1965. Thankfully, Canfield Coating had a job for him.
He worked his way up, and the company put him through electrician school. He then got into the maintenance department at the plant.
Over the past half-century, new equipment replaced old, and he learned new technology and continued to maintain it.
The three-shift plant operates 24 hours a day, so if something breaks in the middle of the night, Moore is always ready to work.
The plant has three lines: an electro-galvanizing line where zinc is bonded with steel to protect against corrosion, a paint line and a trim line.
Moore said he still likes his job, but from the looks of it, it’s clear he really loves it.
Paint stains his boots. His worn shirt is emblazoned with his name. He has the rough hands of a working man.
Still, his smile and attitude warmed the room Monday.
His family might want to see him hang up his hard hat, but he says he’ll keep working until he can no longer do the job.
His job calls for him to come in at 7 a.m., but his boss, John Rich, operations manager at Canfield Coating, always sees him there earlier.
Moore is supposed to work until 3 p.m.
“Most of the time we have to kick him out,” Rich said, smiling. “I know we are happy to have him.”
Rich is one of the several employees at Canfield Coating who has learned something from Moore.
“He taught me everything [I] know about maintenance,” Rich said.
Rich has never met anyone like Moore, a man he says is the most patient person he ever met.
“He does everything that is asked of him,” Rich said.
That sentiment was mentioned several times by workers who have worked with Moore for years and others who just started.
“I don’t think there’s anyone here you can count on more,” said Dave Kochert, maintenance manager at Canfield Coating. “He’s got more in his mind than anyone will ever have.”
If there is anyone who knows Moore’s work ethic it’s his wife of 52 years, Darleen.
Together, they have two daughters, Sheila Parks of Salem and Kristina Young of Tampa, Fla.
“There was never a job too dirty or too beneath him to do,” Darleen said. “I think he is a fine example for younger people. His work from Day 1 was always to do the best he could in whatever the job was.”