USW Member retirement questions….

Name    Billy Martin  

Total years working at the Prattville Mill.     38

Total years in Operations    7

Total years in Maintenance.   31

Areas in the mill you worked in the mill: All areas

Plans upon retirement….  My wife and I have been planning this for 2 years. We bought a motor home and plan to travel all over the USA. We have leased our house out and are ready to hit the road.

Hobbies?  Golf.  Looking forward to Arizona and the thin air.

Any info/advice would like to share on the retirement preparation? Things to consider?        

      1.   Start 2 years out. It will pass by quicker than you think.

      2.   Make sure on your paper work all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed.

      3.   Make sure your personal finances are in order.

      4.  When you retire you must stop buying stuff. You need to go into a preservation mode.

      5.  Trish will go over packets to help understand the choices.

      Age you are retiring from International Paper.   62 

How did you know it was time to retire?                                                                                                      Looking at the number of years of service, age, and being able to draw social security. 

Any special memories you would like to share with other employees?                                                 Some part of everyday out here is a part of the memories.

People who influenced you from the mill in a positive way.                                                                    Johnny Paulk, Raymond Mathis, Johnny Rigsby, and Neil Causey.

What advice for the new guys?                                                                                                                            Want to learn all you can while you can from the older guys.

What advice for the guys with 25 years in with the company?                                                                     Get prepared because retirement will sneak up in a hurry.

How do you want to be remembered?                                                                                                                       I don’t.

Would you be willing to come back as a guest to a Local Union Meeting to share with Post Retirement advise?                                                                                                                                                             I sure would. 

Last comments                                                                                                                                                                  I have been a faithful Union member since the day I was hired. The thought of ever getting out any one of these locals that I was in never crossed my mind in 38 years. Pay your dues, don’t gripe. Be thankful for the money you earn. The way this company seems to be going I hope you never get in trouble, but if you do you are going to be thankful you are a member of this local if you want to keep your job.