Eddie Bowen Retires from Gusher
By . Posted on in Company News, People Behind the Pumps
43 years as a company man and friend
In September, Gusher celebrated the long career and retirement of shop foreman, Eddie Bowen. Eddie started his Gusher career in 1978, working on the drilling line. From there he moved briefly on to the paint booth and then to machining before settling in assembly. He remained in assembly until he was promoted to Foreman in 2003.
During his time at Gusher Eddie was responsible for completing 1000s of pumps and was instrumental in the ISO Certification process. Over the years, Eddie trained countless employees, including Gusher’s current General Manager, Tim McClanahan.
“He was the one that trained me in building 7800 Series pumps,” recalled Tim. “One thing that always stood out to me with Eddie is if you heard a curse word come out of him you knew he was upset. I probably caused him to say a few over the years. He was dedicated and loyal to Gusher for 43 years. His experience will be missed.”
“Eddie would cut no corners when it came to making pumps and he expected the same from everyone,” added Production Manager, Tim Bowen. “If he was involved, you could be sure the pump was top-of-the-line. He was the very definition of a ‘company man.’”
Beyond his dedication to Gusher, Eddie will be remembered as a kind and generous co-worker.
“Eddie is a one-of-a-kind person, most genuine person you will ever meet,” explained AR/Office Manager Becky Bowen. “He would give you the t-shirt off his back, it would be black or blue with a pocket, but you could have it if needed. He would loan people money if they didn’t have it, bought their stuff if they were trying to sell if they needed extra money. He was always the person to unlock the door at 4:30 am or sooner–regardless of the weather. You could always count on him no matter what! He’s a very special friend to all of us and we have all been honored to work with him, he will be greatly missed by everyone, especially by me. “
That friendship was echoed in Eddie’s own words about his time at Gusher. He will remember it as “A friendly place where everyone gets along. The owners took the time to get to know you. It’s more of a family than a big company where you’re just a number.”
Please join us in wishing Eddie a long and happy retirement!