Tire Worker at USW Local 12L in Gadsden Celebrates 90th Birthday

Sidney Richardson just turned 90 years old, and instead of enjoying retirement, brother Sidney is still working hard as a USW member. 

Richardson’s birthday was in late February. He still works full-time at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Gadsen, Ala., and has the most seniority at USW Local 12L. He started working at age 17 when the United Rubber Workers (URW) represented the workers at that plant.

Sid worked in the reclaim plant, the Mix Center and in Calendar /Cutters before moving to his current job in the Receiving Department. He thought about retiring after 40 years on the job but then reconsidered when he figured he might get bored.

Richardson, who served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1947, is the longest-serving Goodyear employee worldwide and according to an article by the Alabama Media Group, approximately 9,000 employees have been hired at the plant since Richardson.

When he was asked what advice he could give to young workers Richardson said, “Put forth a lot of effort. Put one foot in front of the other, and you can get through anything.”