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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE

ROCKWELL/BOEING NORTH AMERICAN RETIREES CLUB

 

          It wasn’t long after the entire Rockwell Missile Systems Division (MSD) relocated from Columbus, OH, to Gwinnett County, GA, in the early 80’s, that some of us began to retire.  A few senior Missile Systems Division employees, rather than accept the transfer to Georgia, opted to temporarily work here during the transition, but then retire from Columbus.  These people remain on the Club’s roster, but are listed as “Outside the Metro Atlanta Area.”

          The bulk of employee transfers occurred during 1982 and 1983 … with a tad in 1981 and a few  stragglers in 1984.  Retirements from MSD, Georgia, started as early as 1985.  Of those still residing in the Metro Atlanta Area, Ted Brackett, with a February 1985 retirement date, may have been the first.  During the same era (1985-1988), several others retired; including, but not limited to, Andy Anderson, George Carroll, Gil Gilbertson, John Muldowney, Ainsley Smithyman, Gene Whitley, Leigh Matthews, Ernie Stoops, and Frank Wilcox. These guys became the nucleus of our Retirees Club – Georgia Chapter.

          The first known get-together was in June 1988.  An organizational “luncheon” of the “Rockwell Missile Systems Division Retirees Club” was held at the Red Lobster.  It was at this meeting that Andy Anderson agreed to be jack-of-all-trades during the start-up.  Andy continued in this role through 1989, with a title as Secretary-Treasurer.  Apparently, there was no President or Vice-President — Andy ran the whole thing.

          The name of the Club changed through the years as the name of the division changed.  From 1990 through 1996, it was the “Rockwell International Retirees Club,” from 1997 through 1999, “Boeing North American Retirees Club” and since 2000, it’s been “Rockwell/Boeing Retirees Club.”  To cover all bases, we’re calling this website the home of the “Rockwell/Boeing North American Retirees Club.”

 

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