McArthur (Mac) Cole started working for the company on July 10, 1990. His first job was a catcher for then WLR Foods, Inc. He then went on to running a loader and became a crew foreman, a job he held for 27 of his 35 years with the company. After that, he went back to operating a loader due to changes in the department structure. During his tenure, he also worked for a year in Live Production, a year doing cage repair and actually has done almost every job in Live Haul. He now is operating a loader and fills in for the supervisor and manager of Live Haul when needed. Mac has achieved Perfect Attendance for over 20 years, which is very commendable!
I asked Mac about the changes since he began working and he said that it is mostly the people, he has seen many people come and go. The equipment is so much better now than when they had to use homemade or used equipment. It definitely makes the work a whole lot easier. Now there are many more regulations in place and lots more documentation that needs to be completed.
Mac and I talked a little about the supervisors and managers he has worked for during his years with the company. He said he got along great with all of them and they were all different. He currently works for Liz Weese, Live Haul Manager.
When I asked Mac about the most memorable event he remembers since he started working, he said it would have to be cleaning up after truck accidents, where he has to remove the cages (sometimes bent up) from the trucks and clean up the area. He also remembers helping to clean up after the flood in 1996.
When Mac isn’t working getting chickens to the plant, he goes to the Health and Wellness Center working out at the gym and keeping healthy, at least 2-3 days a week (which is a free benefit for Pilgrim’s employees). He also loves hunting, with both bow and rifle. He has hunted for deer, bear, wild boar (which he hunted in four inches of snow) and his favorite is coyote hunting at night. Mac has 4 daughters and 10 grandchildren to help keep him busy.
What does the future hold for Mac? He hopes he can retire from Pilgrim’s in a few years. He wants to do more hunting for as long as he can. He will even hunt on crutches, as he did once! Thank you, Mac, for your dedication, hard work and loyalty to our Company!
About Pilgrim’s
Pilgrim’s employs more than 56,000 people and operates protein processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K. and continental Europe. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, please visit www.pilgrims.com.
