Philip Jones – Honored for nearly 50 years of employment

Philip Jones began working at Warner Robins Building Supply Co. (in roughly 1969) when he was in the 11th grade and is now celebrating his 49th year with the company as he prepares to begin his retirement. However, anyone who knows him would agree with Business Development and Marketing Manager, Jim Taylor when he said, “He’s not going to retire-retire; he’s got stuff lined up.”

President of Warner Robins Building Supply Co., Mark Bayer stated, “He has his own company. He comes here and works 10 hours a day, then he leaves and works until midnight. I don’t know how he does it. He has the strongest work ethic I’ve ever seen.” Taylor added, “He does it six days a week, and then he has a gospel singing group and drives the motorcoach and they tour around on weekends. He’s an old school guy and you just don’t find that anymore. But that’s what the store’s been able to do over the years – attract and keep people like him and that’s why this is our 72nd year, because of people like him.” The company was established in 1947.

Jones’ most recent position was operations manager, but as Bayer stated, “He literally started from the bottom and worked his way up to one of the top positions in the company. He started at the Sixth Street store, then he became a truck driver down there, then he moved to the warehouse on First Street, and ran that and managed that for a number of years, usually by himself. And there was a window shop down there and he built windows back when wood windows were the thing. Then he came out here to this store, he’s managed the yard, the dispatch, he managed our truck plant, he managed the door shop, commercial doors, install sales, and every construction and remodeling project that we’ve ever had.

He set up our Macon store, built all the warehouses; that was a big project and he did all that. He helped manage the store and get it started. He’s been in charge of fleet maintenance for years; he’s been involved in every equipment purchase we’ve done. He’s been the go-to man for any maintenance problems. He even went to Wyoming and did some projects for me on my ranch. Stuff I couldn’t get anybody else to do. He’s always been there to step up to the plate when we had a problem.”

Bayer continued, “Through the years, he and I have had a great relationship. It’s going to take a number of people to replace him. I think we should all learn from his work ethic, his can-do attitude, and his willingness to take on any task. I’m extremely grateful for what he’s done for this company and I’m gonna miss you, buddy!”

His nearly 50 years of employment with the company was celebrated on Thursday afternoon with a retirement party held at the Warner Robins location on Watson Boulevard.

A man of very few words, Jones stated, “I appreciate the ride; it’s been a good ride. This has been a good company, a good family company.” He explained that he never imagined working somewhere for 50 years and he feels happy about leaving, but he will “still be around.” He does construction work on the side, and said, “I’m going to continue to do that.”