What GM Means To Me
As a young man in 1957, I had the opportunity to hire on with GMC Truck and Coach in Pontiac, Michigan. After 2 years at Flint Junior College I was hired as a specification clerk in the Engineering Department. After a year or so, I could see that two years of junior college was not going to be sufficient for advancement within GMC Truck and Coach. After a visit with the Personnel Department, I discovered that GM would assist me with night school, with reimbursement for collage credits towards a degree. After long chats with my wife about the sacrifices we would both have to make in the long road to a Bachelor of Science Marketing degree in Business, I started to attend Wayne State University in 1961. True to their word, GM reimbursed me for my credits earned toward my degree and in 1969 I graduated.
During this time of night school, I also was a proud member of the U.S. Army Reserve. This duty required two weeks summer camp each year and GM recognized "duty to country" and paid my salary while away at summer camp with the Army. I will never forget what that meant to our family during those days of limited income. During the time I was attending Wayne State University, I was able to transfer into the Sales Department.
After graduation, in 1969, I took my first of many assignments, both in the field and at home office where I remained for the balance of my 34 years of service, retiring as a Sales and Service Zone Manager in 1991. This all happened because GM gave me the opportunity to further my education.
My wife and I often talk about those days and wonder how it all got done. But we know one thing, without GM's help in furthering my education; we would not have made the most of the advancement opportunities and the retirement we enjoy today.
That's what GM means to me! Thank you for the opportunity to add my story.
Loren R. Bray
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