PHOTO: DREAMSTIME.COM

Pearl Brewer, 72, hit a 50-year milestone in his employment with Freeman Corp in Winchester.

He operates a diesel-powered pneumatic-tyred John Deere 444 loader that uses a set of forks with a hydraulic top-clamp for holding logs.

Executives say Brewer takes excellent care of the materials handling equipment, uses it with skill and efficiency and, as a result of his meticulous care, has probably saved the corporation thousands of dollars in replacement and maintenance costs.

The Freeman family pledges to honour Brewer's future anniversaries a with lunch and cake for everyone for as long as Brewer remains a company employee.

The corporation has about 250 employees and daily produces about 800,000 sqft. (74,320 sqm) of sliced and rotary veneers.

Rachel Gilliam in the Winchester Sun gave a full report about Brewer's career.