Article date: June 27, 2001

Paul Oldt, security guard at Avtex, who has worked at the plant for 57 years

By: Mary Jordan

Avtex security guard Paul Oldt may be the longest running employee at the site, but the 57 years he’s worked there have seemed like nothing.

That may be due to the fact that the plant has treated him well.

"It’s been a good place to work," Oldt said. "I couldn’t see going anywhere else to get a job."

A native of Lewistown, Pa., Oldt started working at the Avtex site in 1944 when he was 16 years old. He worked in the production plant until 1990, when he became a security guard.

Oldt is among other employees at the Avtex site that the Avtex Stakeholders group, a representative body of people and organizations interested in site-related issues, and FMC Corp., which is responsible for the cleanup of the site, are trying to honor through their Avtex Legacy Program.

Oldt was greeted by co-workers last week to honor the anniversary of his starting date--June 21.

"It stunned me, I wasn’t expecting it," Oldt said.

Oldt said he has many good memories of working at Avtex, but the happiest memory is meeting his wife, Iva Oldt.

Paul Oldt’s face light up and a smile stretches from ear to ear as he talks about his wife, The two met in the production plant and will be married 53 years in July, Oldt said.

Oldt has experienced many changes at Avtex— from its beginning production years, to company changes, the shutdown of the plant in 1989 and the current redevelopment project.

"They’re doing a lot of work here now," Oldt said. "It’s really taking off."

Although the environment may be different, Oldt said the work is till the same and the people are still like one big family.

"When I worked at the plant, it was just like one happy family, and it’s just like that now," Oldt said. "It’s still a good place to work as far as I’m concerned."

Oldt himself had a few family members working there with him. Oldt said his sister had worked in the laboratory and his brother had worked there for 15 years along with him.

Oldt said he plans to continue working at Avtex as long as his good health continues. At age 73, he is still working full-time to keep trespassers off the grounds and to keep an eye on any equipment that enters or leaves the site, he said.