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SGI’s Kremlin Plant has existed as a mining operation to support the roofing industry for 85 years. Eugene Butterfield has worked at the location for 50 of them. The Truck Driver and Laborer recently marked his 50th anniversary working at the site.

“I kind of feel like a slacker – the place has been here for 85 years, and I’ve only been here 50,” he joked.

Eugene’s family moved to Pembine while the company his dad worked for in Sheboygan experienced a six-year labor strike. His father had grown up on a farm in Pembine and returned to his roots to farm alongside his brother during that time.

“When the strike ended, we went back, (but) my heart was in Pembine.”

He returned to the area and joined the Kremlin Plant in 1974 because it was close to home, and he knew he could earn a good living there – even if the tasks could sometimes be laborious.

“Back then, you had to know somebody,” he explained, “so when you got in there, you were just thankful to be there, so you did what you needed to do.”

Eugene’s uncle worked at the site and served as his foot in the door. At that time, work was mostly seasonal, so the site slowed –and often shut down– over the winter. In time, though, work became steady as the company decided to use the roofing off-season as an opportunity to build inventory.

“That made life a whole lot easier.”

He credits site and company leadership, past and present, with having the foresight to take steps necessary to expand the quarry and ensure the Kremlin Plant continues to operate well into the future.

“Without all those pieces coming together, there would be people out of jobs,” he noted.

Over the years, Eugene has enjoyed the variety of work he’s done at the Kremlin Plant.

“If you go in a place and you get stuck on the same job for 50 years, that’s going to get pretty boring.”

In addition, he said he’s felt appreciated and well cared for by SGI.

“They pay you well, there are good benefits, they provide PPE – (it’s) almost like a family taking care of you, seeing to it that you have what you need,” he explained. “It’s because of the company that I’m able to have such a good life and live in the area of the country I live in.”

This month, Eugene will retire. He said the timing seems right.

“Back in ’74, I was 24. And now, in ’24, I’m 74. The numbers match up, so it’s a good time to retire.”

SGI President Justin P. Dunlap said team members like Butterfield are invaluable sources of knowledge and stability.

“SGI is fortunate to have many long-term team members who act as beneficial mentors to our employees while facilitating the knowledge transfer that helps to ensure we have stable operations,” he said

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