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Former Gilman employees will continue to party

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Bob Douglas

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John Draeger

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Ivan Shantz

JANESVILLE — Former Gilman employees will mention innovative engineering, growth and good pay for reasons they loved their jobs, but the company knew another way to boost morale: throw a good party.

Employees attended steak cookouts, company picnics and holiday parties every year. People often dressed in Hawaiian or 1950s outfits as part of a theme. Company bosses even performed embarrassing skits.

"This place has always gone out of its way to bring people together," former machine technician Tom West said.

Even though ThyssenKrupp bought Gilman and closed its doors this month, former Gilman workers will continue to party during annual company reunions, the first of which was held Sunday at the Marine Corps League south of Janesville.

"We've had a lot of camaraderie over the years," West said. "This is a big family."

ThyssenKrupp, the company on Delavan Drive known as Gilman, put 160 people out of work.

Despite the shutdown, hundreds of former employees from different eras gathered to share their memories of working at the plant.

Bob Douglas, a former general manager who left Gilman in 1986, said the company was good to its people.

"I am personally proud of the outstanding reputation of the company on a national level," Douglas said.

Tom Taylor, a former general manager who left Gilman in 1995, said he would remember how much fun it was to work on new engineering projects.

The company designed and manufactured power train systems, including components for the manual, semi-automatic and automatic assembly of parts for automotive manufacturers.

Gilman also created parts for assembly lines for companies that used them to build airplanes and household appliances.

The company's projects always changed.

"Because we did so many things from an engineering standpoint, nobody's work was boring," Taylor said. "It was a fun job for everybody."

George Gilman Sr. opened the company in 1936 with the production of small lathes. The company has changed owners and names numerous times.

Most recently ThyssenKrupp, which is a global technology company based in Duesseldorf, Germany, that employs about 191,000 in 70 countries, had bought Gilman.

During the reunion, people ate and drank together. A slide show was played on a big screen. Some former workers wore "Still Gilman at heart" shirts.

It was the first time many folks had seen one another in years. A few people drove from as far away as Ohio and Minnesota.

John Draeger, who started at Gilman in 1955 as a design engineer and left in 1987 as general manager, said the reunion was a great way to gain closure.

"The reason we're doing it is because we want to sort of have a final farewell and at the same time we want to acknowledge all the employees, the ex-employees and the retirees," Draeger said.

A few people expressed sadness about Gilman closing.

"I think it's a bad thing," said Ivan Shantz, who worked for the company from 1954 to 1985. "I always enjoyed working there. It was very interesting as far as the design part."

West, who lost his job Aug. 15, said workers must move on together.

"We're all a little upset," he said. "It's done and over with. We have to make the best of it."

Former Gilman employees plan to hold reunions annually to stay in touch. A handful of people have formed a reunion committee.

"We've all known each other for 30 years," West said.

And they look forward to seeing one another again next year.