Special Retirement Honors

E. Boyd Asplundh, retired senior vice president, was given special honors during the Holiday 2001 meeting of company shareholders. After 42 years of service on the Board of Directors of the Asplundh Tree Expert Co., Boyd's longstanding contributions to the company were noted and recognized as he retired from the Board.

The eldest son of company founder Lester Asplundh, Boyd was named corporate secretary in 1960 and joined the company full-time in 1963 to manage corporate legal affairs. Before his Asplundh career, he had served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Swarthmore College and received a J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania. Boyd had also worked for several years for a law firm and then an insurance broker. Boyd assumed a leadership position in the company's EEO program and labor relations, and in 1982, he was elected senior vice president. In 1989, he retired from day-to-day operations, but continued to serve on the Board. Chairman/CEO Chris Asplundh marked Boyd's retirement with the presentation of a Waterford crystal clock in appreciation of his outstanding service to the company.

Jim Allard, vice president and corporate safety director, retired from the company as of March 31 after a diverse and successful 36-year career with Asplundh. At a retirement dinner on March 21, President Scott Asplundh and many of Jim's co-workers and family members paid tribute to his accomplishments, especially the steady reductions in the company's accident incidence, frequency and severity, even as the company expanded.

In 1966, after serving in the U.S. Army and working in the insurance industry, Jim joined Utilities Line Construction Co., a former Asplundh affiliate. Starting out as an administrative assistant, he moved up to office manager within two years. In 1970, Jim came over to Asplundh and worked for the next 11 years in various supervisory positions in employee benefits, accounts receivable, billing and as an assistant to Edward Asplundh. Transferring into the former Asplundh Manufacturing Division in 1981, he was promoted to personnel and safety manager of the division. Since 1984 Jim has served as director of the corporate Safety Department and in 1994, he was elected vice president. Active in the National Arborist Association, Jim has served on its Board, the Safety and ANSI Z133 Committees, and most recently completed a term as its president. He is also a member of the ISA. Jim and his wife, Maryellen, look forward to a more flexible schedule, which will allow more time for travel, fishing, golf and flea market trips. Best wishes in your retirement!

Best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement to all the
Asplundh retirees listed here!

Jesse Brown Foreman, Oregon First employed July 1997 Retired January 2002	David Ortega Foreman, Texas First employed November 1955 Retired February 2002	James Taylor Crew Member, Illinois First employed November 1999 Retired December 2001
John Gatrell, Jr. Crew Member, Maryland First employed January 1999 Retired November 2001	Glendale Price Crew Member, Maryland First employed March 1994 Retired February 2002	Otis Teague Senior Locator, CLS, Texas First employed June 1998 Retired February 2002
Ralph Hitt Crew Member, West Virginia First employed January 1990 Retired October 2001	Ray Schumacher Assistant General Foreman, Illinois First employed October 1999 Retired November 2001	John Thompson Crew Member, Maryland First employed May 1994 Retired December 2001
George Nowicki Foreman, Illinois First employed October 1999 Retired February 2002		Charles Weed Construction Foreman, New York First employed September 1999 Retired January 2002

To wish her well in her retirement, Secretary Helen Williamson received several bouquets of flowers, a photo collage of her co-workers, a gift certificate and two separate farewell luncheons from Vice President Tom McDonnell and her fellow employees in February. A 16-year veteran of the Asplundh office in Richmond, Virginia, Helen's familiar, friendly voice with that gentle Virginia accent will be missed by all. Enjoy your retirement, Helen!

In Memorium

Erwin Bannister, retired supervisor in South Carolina, passed away on December 31, 2001 at the age of 77. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he first started with Asplundh in 1942 and returned after the war in 1946. By 1950, Erwin had advanced to supervisor, overseeing crews working on the properties of Duke Power, Southern Bell and South Carolina Electric & Gas Company. Erwin is survived by his wife, Anne; a son, Brent; two daughters, Cecilia and Kim; and four grandsons.

 

 

 

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