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Same Names...
Different Generation
 
Left to right: Collins "Bubba" Caddis, III, Sam Bartlett, Jr.,  Jason Woodruff & Justin Woodruff
WOODRUFF
 

CADDIS

 

BARTLETT

 

WOODRUFF
 

CADDIS

 

BARTLETT
 

WOODRUFF
 

CADDIS

 

BARTLETT

 

WOODRUFF
 

 Suppose your father has worked for the same company for more years than you've been born. Imagine your entire life all you ever heard was the same company name, year after year. Would you be tired of hearing it? Would you think "I can't wait until I'm grown and can get my own job?" The answers from four new employees may surprise you.

In the past year, JWR has hired nearly 250 new employees. Most of these were to just keep up with our rapidly rising retirement rate. A couple of weeks ago, 20 more new hires completed their 40-hour training class. Here is what they had to say about growing up with Jim Walter Resources when WORKINGS interviewed them on their last day of classroom training.

The Woodruff brothers, Jason 24, and Justin, 20, are clean-cut, well mannered and eager to start their careers in mining. Answering each question carefully, always adding yes sir or no sir to their comments, they obviously were raised in a traditional Southern home. Their father, Ollie Woodruff, known as O.D., is a Fire Boss Pumper at No. 4 Mine where he has worked for 27 years. Jason, who will be working at No. 7 Mine said, "Mining has provided our family with a good lifestyle. I know JWR is a good place to work and I want to make my future there too. I want to make my father proud."

Younger brother Justin, who will be working at the same mine as his father added, "I'm finishing my associate degree shortly and I'm looking forward to the job opportunities at JWR. The pay is good and the benefits are great. Growing up, we listened to our father and his coal mining friends talk about their jobs and I always found them interesting. I'm grateful to have the chance to work with my father."		 Sam Bartlett, Jr., 34, has been around mining all his life as well. His father, Sam, has over 30 years in mining and has been a long-time employee at No. 4 Mine. "When I finished school, I didn't want to stay in the area and the thought of working in a coal mine never crossed my mind," says Sam, Jr. "I worked as a utility lineman for many years. I traveled from Cape Cod to Key West and everywhere in between. I made good money but I wanted to be closer to home with my wife and three children. It's not so much about the money as it is about the security of being close to my family and the wonderful benefits JWR offers."  Sam Jr. will be working at No. 4 Mine.

Collins "Bubba" Caddis, III, 26, is now a fourth generation coal miner. His father, Collins Caddis, Jr., has worked at No. 7 Mine as an Electrician longer than Bubba has been alive. Bubba will be working at No. 7 Mine as well. "I raced cars and was a welding inspector for the last few years, " Bubba says. "I got tired of the traveling and wanted to come back home. Growing up, my parents always provided for me because of JWR. One day I would like to give my children the same opportunities as my parents gave me."

When asked if it added any extra stress to a new job by working at the same company as their fathers, all four men answered the same. "We know our fathers have high expectations of us and there is no way we are going to let them down."