On February 28, 1979, my paternal grandfather, Alex, sent a letter to the management of Northwestern Steel and Wire on its 100th anniversary:

I wish to extend my congratulations to your company on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary Date of its founding.

My recollections of the company are many and over a period of time, beginning with my first job in the office when I was in eighth grade, sorting payroll and company checks and reconciling the bank statements.

While in high school I worked in the office one summer and ran the switchboard. Unfortunately, I fooled around a little with Jack Hill and was fired.

Thereafter, your company furnished employment for me while in college during the summers of 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937. This employment was helpful as it enabled me to help pay my way through college.

My father, Arthur L. Haglund, started his employment with your company in 1913, and was employed there until 1950, when he retired.

My legal relationship with the company started when I first was employed by Carl E. Sheldon on January 1, 1946. He was Counsel to the company at that time and continued until his death in February, 1951.

Thereafter, our legal relationship continued, as I have been privileged to assist in legal matters for over 28 years to this date.

My association with the company, its officers, and employees has been very pleasant over the years. I wish the company continued success as it begins its second century.

Sincerely,

Alexander L. Haglund

My dad read this letter aloud with his brother and my brother in the room. We all met in Chicago to go to a Cubs game for Father’s Day, but it was postponed due to rain. (Bummer.) I figured I’d share this in spirit of the day.

A few things stood out to us:

  • The fact that my grandpa was doing accounting for a big company as an eight grader if hilarious. If you knew my grandpa, you could definitely believe that.
  • It’s a baller move to remind the company he was previously fired by the company.
  • An interesting time and space: when my parental grandpa was working there in his college summers, my maternal grandfather was just being born!
  • My great-grandfather, Arthur, off and on, worked for the mill for 37 years. Alex had the mill as a client for 36 years, at the time of this letter. That’s a long long time and something we don’t see too often these days where people jump companies every couple years.
  • 1946 would have been right after World War II which Alex served in Europe.

Happy Father’s Day everyone.