PRADCO honours team member’s 53 years of service

PRADCO Outdoor Brands, one of the world’s largest suppliers of lures, has recognised an amazing 53 years of service of a team member in a most unusual way.

It has named a fishing pavilion in its home city of Fort Smith, Arkansas after Bill Jarboe, who joined the company on August 8th, 1970 as a tool and die maker.

The PRADCO Outdoor Brands Bill Jarboe Family Fishing Pavilion will be a lasting tribute to Jarboe and his more than five decades of service to the company.

The honour was a closely guarded secret, Jarboe knowing nothing about it until he attended what he thought was to be an announcement of a donation by PRADCO of $150,000 for a local community project.

Seconds after that, he was called to the podium by PRADCO Vice President and General Manager Bruce Stanton and given the news in front of his family and friends who had travelled to Fort Smith to attend.

Said Jarboe: “I was absolutely amazed. My wife, Debbie, has never kept a secret in her life – but she sure did a good job staying quiet about this one. It is a massive honour for me. There have been a lot of highlights during my career at PRADCO, but this has to be the tops.”

Stanton added: “It is a great day at the office when we can honour one of our own and Bill is deserving of this. During his 53 years at PRADCO he has always wanted to do more, better himself and embrace change. He is an example of someone who lives the ‘continuous improvement’ credo and always strives to get better even late in his career.

“PRADCO has up to 40 people who have been with the company for over 25 years. Many will have looked outside of the fence, but decided to stay with us. I believe the company’s culture and its success has a lot to do with that.”

With over half a century under his belt, Jarboe has no intention of retiring. He said: “I hope not – God willing!”