Springfield LLC- Limestone Plant employees Marshall "Buck" Griffin and Doris Patterson recently celebrated 50 years at the textile production facility. Not an inch of cloth makes its way out of Springfield LLC's Limestone Plant without the watchful eye of Doris Patterson giving the material a once-over.

The last line of defense before the fabric is developed into linens and cloths with multiple uses, her job has become more important as the textile industry, once a stable source of infrastructure for the Southeastern U.S., has become more competitive worldwide.

"The way textiles have been up and down, everything from the different grading of cloth to the quality of the fabric are important in staying competitive," said Brett Bridges, Springfield LLC Limestone Plant manager of human resources, compensation and benefits. "We want the best quality, and nothing gets out of here without her stamp of approval."

Patterson's job is made much easier by Marshall "Buck" Griffin, whose job as loom technician makes sure the plant's machines produce quality pieces of cloth without a hitch.

"People often ask what my secret to success is, and I'll tell them without delay that you have to be rough, tough, mean and ugly to do my job; that's it," Griffin said.

The old textile plant off Cherokee Avenue has changed names several times and seen managers and employees come and go. However, Patterson and Griffin have been constants, remaining employed by the plant for 50 years.

Patterson and Griffin were recently recognized for their accomplishments by the plant, joining the exclusive company of a former peer, J.R. 'Bud" Ledbetter, in 2006. Gaffney's Springfield textile mill is believed to be the only facility nationwide to have any of its employees reach the 50-year plateau, Bridges said.

"It's always an honor of mine just to present a pin to employees who have reached their fifth year of employment with us," Bridges said. "So when you have the opportunity to present someone for 50 years of service, it's truly incredible and a testament to their dedication and commitment to the company."

Neither of them saw their jobs at the plant as "career" jobs, as both were merely looking for a steady, reliable source of income locally.

"The best I made was $1.14 per hour driving a bus," Griffin said. "So I came here knowing this was the only place in town that paid well."

Taking up the job of loom technician back in those days meant dealing with watching material crawl through machines at a snail's pace.

"Those loom machines were so slow that you could walk from one end to the other before pieces of cloth made their way through," Griffin said. "Modernization has done away with that, though."

Faster-paced machines require both Griffin and Patterson to put more pep in their step these days, as technological advances and higher demand require higher production.

However, that will do nothing to slow down these two, both of whom look at the job as something they love rather than merely a means to earn a paycheck.

"You don't see a lot of that these days, people who come to work because they love to and not just what they can get out of it at the end of the week," Bridges said. "These two are simply one of a kind."

Griffin said it is likely he will retire in the next few years to enjoy the fruits of his 50-plus years in the workforce with his wife. Patterson, however, is another story, vowing to remain at the plant as long as she is in good health.

"I've seen people when they stop working, and many of them have just went down afterward because their job was a big piece of their lives," Patterson said. "I thank the Lord for staying in good health. If I remain strong, I'll remain here for the next five, 10 or more years because I love my job and the people I work with."