Congrats to Linda Waddell for 50 Years at Remington

By Adam White

Linda Waddell went home in tears after her first day at Remington on Sept. 17, 1973.
Her technician hadn't given her the warm welcome she expected as an 18-year-old starting a new job. Despite that initial setback, Linda came back the next morning. And she has continued to come back for 50 straight years.

This week marks her 50^th anniversary with the company, and to celebrate this milestone, here's a look back at her career.

For her first seven years, Linda assisted the quality department with powder weights and dimensional checks before applying for a new position, where she was responsible for adding product numbers into a new computer system. After starting with a single product and adding each part number, Linda and her team got everything tracked. Seven years later, she went searching for a new challenge.

In 1989, when the last remaining ammunition produced in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was slated to be moved to Lonoke, Linda was part of the team that packaged everything for shipping to Arkansas. She kept meticulous notes about how the machines were disassembled so they could be reassembled upon arrival. All the equipment had been coated in oil to prevent rust during transport and stored in the current Rimfire loading room, but during construction of the mezzanine that sits over the top of the loaders, a spark hit the oil-coated loaders and started a fire. Though some of Linda's notes went up in flames, she was able to put the puzzle pieces back together and the operation started on time.

Later, when the Shotshell Packing department lost six supervisors in under two years, Linda was asked to help. Linda isn't easily intimidated, and she spent seven years managing the area. Linda was always willing to step in and help, and she later got feedback from a manager that she was better suited for directing the team than sitting back and helping.

After a short stint in the Primer area, Linda accepted a Shipping Supervisor position, where she has been since 2006. She has come a long way from her first day when she was making $2.35 an hour - and almost didn't even make it to Day 2.

A look through her employee file shows exactly one performance review from 1995. She was rated "outstanding" overall but with a note that she needed to improve her quality and housekeeping. Anyone who knows Linda understands she's addressed any housekeeping shortcomings. She is one of the most quality-oriented workers Remington has ever had. Linda's response to that review - "Open to change and look forward to the challenges."

That was just as true then as it is now. We wish her the best of luck in this upcoming change and appreciate all the times she was willing to step up and meet the many challenges over the last 50 years.

Thanks, Linda, and congrats on this accomplishment!