When Jeff Arnold began working at the Manufacturer’s Assistance Group 40 years ago, Ronald Reagan was president, a first-class stamp cost 15 cents, Olivia Newton John ruled the airwaves with her hit ‘‘Physical,’’ and the balding Arnold had a mound of hair on his head.
“He had a full head of hair when he started,’’ jokes his wife Dianne Arnold, 61. “He was good looking back then. Now he’s an old man like the rest of us.’’
What hasn’t changed through the years, though, is Arnold’s easygoing and professional manners which propelled him upward to become the director of the MAG 21 years ago. MAG is a nonprofit organization that employs developmentally disabled persons in manufacturing.
To honor Arnold, service, staff and board members threw a party in his honor this month. Partygoers chowed down on pork steak and chicken, salad and baked potatoes from Dexter’s Bar-B-Que and cupcakes from Sweets by Ann. The board of directors also presented Arnold, 60, with an engraved hunting knife in honor of his 40 years of service.
“They bought dinner for us and they bought me a knife that was engraved with my name and the name of the company,’’ said Arnold. “And several people talked a little bit. It was a pretty nice little party.’’
Mary Peters, the production manager at MAG at 3080 Cravens Road, was one partygoer.
“I have worked with Jeff for 37 of the 40 years that he has been here and he’s one of a kind,’’ she said. “Not every manager has stayed at this place for as many years as he has. He’s really easy to get along with. He’s been great to me. I can’t say that about previous bosses.’’
“I just kind of worked my way up, you know,’’ said Arnold, who lives in Wappapello with his wife, Dianne, of 42 years. He was just 20 years old when he started working at MAG as a truck driver supervisor.
“I guess I just got comfortable with it and enjoyed what I was doing. I just enjoyed it and it felt like home,” Arnold said.
Dianne Arnold, 61, who herself has worked at MAG for 33 years, says what makes him special is “he’s a good guy that always has a smile on his face, a good boss. He heard that over and over and over.’’
When Arnold began at the center, which employs about 60 developmentally disabled and 10 staff members, the tasks were simpler than they are now.
“When I first started, all we did was build wooden shipping pallets,’’ he said. But over the years, the work has become more sophisticated, to include making aluminum storm windows, manufacturing coat hangars to assembling clamps on hoses for local manufacturers.
Danny Neff, president of MAG’s eight-member board of directors, is the former general manager of Revere Plastics. He said he has worked with Arnold “30 years of the total of 40 years he’s been there.’’
He described him as ‘‘always professional’’ and said MAG is “always right behind’’ local manufacturers.
‘‘They just do a fantastic job all the way through,’’ said Neff, 64. “They provide not only a service to the manufacturing community, they provide gainful employment and socialization to people who might have had limited opportunity.’’
He said Arnold has excelled at balancing the needs of his clients and his manufacturing community — “a pretty tough act.’’
“They’re all a good bunch of people,’’ said Arnold. “We have a great board. I don’t have a bad thing to say about anybody. It’s been a blessing. It’s a great place to be and I’ve been fortunate to be here.’'