Martin Aloysius Greaser Born  27 April 1921   Photo was taken at his retirement dinner along with his friend John Olscamp (left)

Information below is from his retirement dinner at Hooker Chemical Company, Niagara Falls, NY:

Martin, or Marty as he’s known to others, comes from a family of 8 boys and 5 girls.  Martin and his wife, Catherine (or Kay as some call her) have 3 boys and 6 girls. He was born and raised on a farm in Preston County, West Virginia.  He graduated from Kingwood High School in 1941.

Martin worked at the coal mines (Borgman Coal Mine near Howesville) as a stationary fireman and engineer for almost 2.5 years. After the coal mines, he left and entered the Navy in November 1943 during WWII.  He was stationed aboard an LST (Landing Ship Tank), an amphibious ship where he worked in the auxiliary engine room.  They had three generators to furnish electricity for the ship. He saw combat in Europe and the Pacific.  In 1946 he was honorably discharged.

His next stint was at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls for 1.5 years as a toll collector at a very high pay rate of $150.00 per month! <g> His month consisted of working 6 days a week, and never getting a Sunday or Holiday off.

From the Rainbow Bridge, he then took a job at Carbide & Carbon Chemical for almost 3 years until they closed down.

He then worked at DuPont for 2.5 months. He then started working at Hooker Chemical Corporation, (now Occidental Petroleum) in December 1950.  He started there in the Caustic Department where he worked for 11.5 years, then transferred to their boiler house in April 1962.

Then he decided to retire, and when he told his friends and relatives he was retiring they wanted to know why? Couldn’t think of a good excuse...he would say I don’t know.  Then he found this poem which explains it all.  Now, if only he could remember where he keeps it. <g>

Included at his retirement dinner was, his wife Catherine (Kay), his oldest son Bill and his wife Donna, his middle son Michael & girlfriend Beth (now his wife), his youngest son John, his daughter Julie & husband Rick, his daughter Teresa & her friend Michelle.  Martin’s older sister Agnes Smith and his brother Elmer & his wife Florence also attended.  The Agenda for his Retirement Dinner was:

I. Welcome

II. Thanks to Organizers (J. Lopez, Bradley, Willard, Clingersmith)

III. Introduce Guests, ask Retirees to Stand "Anyone else I forgot to recognize, please stand"

IV. Review John Olscamp’s Bio "Age Before Beauty"

V. Review Martin Greaser’s Bio

VI. Discuss Friendship...thank them for their help to you

VII. Introduce Speakers as they appear:

        - J. Lopez Remarks
        - Tom Morrello Remarks, Company & Personal Gifts to Martin (read Blasius’ letter)
        - G. Woodward Remarks, Company & Personal Gifts to J. Olscamp
        - W. Bazell - Read Barder’s Regrets
        - J. Drennan
        - F. Leardini
        - T. Bradley (NHEU Rep)
        - A. Kapoor
        - G. Shaffer
        - Martin Greaser
        - John Olscamp

VIII. Conclusion