Novi's Madison Electric employee celebrates 60 years working there

NOVI, Mich. (FOX 2) - Celebrating 60 years on the job must mean it's time to retire, right? 

Not for 78-year-old Bruce Pickard. His only plan is to keep on working. And what makes his career even more impressive, is that he's spent all 60 of those years at the same job. 

He's a co-manager at the Madison Electric branch in Novi. "It's a very good company to work for," he said. "I really enjoy working - I enjoy coming in every day."

And he's been going there every day since just after graduating from Walled Lake High School back in 1959. First he was at Madison Electric's Ferndale store, and now he's in Novi.

On Monday his coworkers gathered to celebrate Bruce's 60 years on the job. But make no mistake - it's not a retirement party.

"It's an amazing thing," said Benjamin Rosenthal, CFO Madison Electric. "I think I've been here a long time - I've only been here 37 years."

Rosenthal is the chief financial officer for Madison Electric, a family business for more than 100 years. Bruce has worked with all five generations.

"He's a wonderfully nice, good guy," Rosenthal said.

Bruce also has a lot to share with the younger generations working there. Noah Gjokaj is 18, the same age Bruce was when he started at Madison Electric.

"Like it's insane - insane - just to think about how long he's been here - 60 years," Noah said. "I can't imagine."

But he does admire his commitment.

"He could stop at any time he wants, but he just keeps coming and some days when he takes vacation he ends up coming back to work," Noah said. "When he should be off, but he still comes in and I just find that amazing, that he's so loyal to the company."

And let's talk about staying power. Cheers to 60 years - but Bruce isn't even the longest serving employee. There was a woman named Amy who worked there for 65 years. But we know Bruce is not done yet, so he has potential to match or even beat that record. 

Even at 78, Bruce is still to work by quarter to 5 every morning and works until 1:30 in the afternoon. He leads by example, showing Noah and the other youngsters the way.

"When you got a job you got to be on time," he said. "You have to take care of business and be nice to people - and people will be nice back to you."