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1958 GM Report on the Golden Milestone Contest

In 1958, my husband, Walter J. Ludlow, (Die Engineer, GM Tech Center, Warren, Michigan) entered the Golden Milestone Contest sponsored by Fisher Body Division, GM. Walter was employed for 49.7 yrs. with GM. He expired 4/24/02. I have kept many of his memories of employment. The following is the first paragraph of 4 pages that he wrote for the Contest:

"A letter of this kind needs an inspiration. Mine was the sight of our eight month boy rocking in his baby jumper. It seems such a short while since he was such a tiny cuddly ball of red skin, squinting eyes and curled fingers. The old adage of 'My, how time flies'. certainly applies to the remarkable development of a child. Each day, sometimes within an hour he'd show a sudden interest in something new, Mommy's earring, a strange voice or the fantastic wonder of disappearing and appearing suddenly in a game of peek-a-boo. This wonderful phenomenon has been called by the simple term of 'growth'. There are many hidden meanings tied up in this six letter work. To explore its depths and analyze it completely would require a thesis beyond all limitations."

Walter explored this topic of his and others accomplishments at GM. He trained as a machine operator, earned an apprenticeship in die-making, draftsman and spent 3 years at GM Institute (GMI). He served in the Pacific Theatre in WWII and arrived home to stable work with GM. He ended the contest letter with the following:

"The grand result of this enthusiastic growth has been a golden pathway reaching out to the stars. Much work still remains to be done to finish the path. But now we pause to erect a marker at the fifty year line to commemorate our past, salute our present and inspire our future endeavors. Perhaps as we grow onward together the star will shine more brightly and light our way to an even greater and better tomorrow.”

As the wife of a GM employee, I thank GM for what your company has done for me and my family. I, too, have faith in your future. I buy American and have a Buick Lucerne.

Thank you for allowing me to participate in these memories.

Typifying the General Motors families and employees who will compete for $500,000 in prized in the company's Golden Milestone letter-writing contest is this family of four. In the background are certificates of GM common stock, $15,000 of which will be awarded as second prize. Third prize will be $10,000 in GM common stock. First prize among the 5,000 awards will be a $35,000 house. GM employees will be invited to write letters based on what the company's first 50 years in business have meant to them, their families and communities. The contest runs from January 2 through February 8 [1957].

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