Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks shared some “great news” with the company’s most experienced alumni June 25.
“For a 175-year-old, we’re doing pretty good,” Weeks cracked as Corning Inc. hosted its annual Service Awards Luncheon Thursday, honoring retirees who began their careers with the company 50 and 75 years ago.
Corning is marking its 175th year at events throughout 2026.
“As we celebrate Corning’s 175th anniversary, we’re reminded that our strength has always come from generations of employees who understood they were part of something larger than themselves,” said Weeks.
“Our retirees helped build the foundation for Corning’s success today through their dedication, resilience, and commitment to leaving behind a stronger version of the company for those who followed. We are proud to honor their service and grateful for the lasting impact they have made on Corning and the world.”
As Corning celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2026, the Service Awards Luncheon recognized retirees’ years of service and the lasting contributions they have made to the company’s legacy.
“I will always remember that I worked for a good company,” said August Andrukat, who started working at Corning Glass Works in 1951 and retired in 1994. “I always looked forward to going to work. It was a good job.”
Carol Anderson, a retired Corning Inc. employee who worked in accounts receivable and accounts payable for 31 years, said the thing she remembers the most is that Corning was a great company to work for.
“There are too many things to count,” said Anderson at the Service Awards Luncheon. “The events. I loved the events and the great people. I worked with a lot of wonderful people.”
Ruth Tucker started at Corning Glass Works in 1976, the day after Christmas, and retired in 2009. She said she will always fondly remember her wonderful career and the amazing people she worked with.
“I remember the training we got and the quality we focused on,” Tucker said. “One thing that I remember the most is that we received a plaque from Ken Freeman that said integrity is the bottom line. I will never forget that. It really is important that integrity is the bottom line, and I look at everything I see around the world, and I question that integrity.”
Weeks reflected on key milestones from 50 and 75 years ago at the luncheon, highlighting how the company has evolved since the honorees began their careers. He also recognized the role they played in that progress and shared an update on Corning’s strong performance today and the opportunities ahead.
Weeks said the company is doing “better than ever.”
“This year, we are on track to deliver record sales and end the year with a $20 billion annualized sales run rate, and we recently announced a plan to double from that $20 billion run rate by the end of 2030,” Weeks said.
“That’s all possible thanks to the generations of the long blue line who came before and that is all of you. The foundation that you helped lay during your long careers paved the way for the success that we all have the privilege to build upon.”
“Fifty and 75 years of service represent far more than time,” added Michelle Gullo, Corning’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “They reflect commitment, craftsmanship, and a profound connection to Corning. As we celebrate 175 years, we’re reminded that this milestone is really a story about our people and about the generations whose contributions have shaped who we are today.”
The program concluded with Weeks personally congratulating each honoree and presenting service awards as tokens of appreciation for their years of dedication to Corning.
“Each of us knows we’re here only for a time, taking up our watch,” Weeks said.
“And we embrace the idea that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves and we commit to doing everything that we can to pass on a better version of this great institution to those who will take our place just like you all got to do 50, 75 years ago.”
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Corning honors retirees for laying groundwork of company’s success
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Corning Leader / The Leader
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Smith, Corning Leader | USA TODAY Network
