Donnie Thomas Quotations

The plant closed and I started the HVAC program at Morristown. It was an 18-month course. Near the end of completion, I switched over and went into the electrician programs, too. I was able to choose my HVAC license certification and get my electrician's license through the state.

Federal-Mogul was a good paycheck and it was a steady paycheck. All of a sudden that's taken away, and that's what a lot of people were faced with. With the closings of Federal-Mogul and Dan River, it throws you back out on the job market.

Everyone has plans of early retirement or what their future is going to hold, which is why I got some rental cabins. I had that on the side anyway. I said this is an opportunity where I can expand and do some of my own maintenance and upkeep. I take care of my own properties.

In this day and time, if you don't have a competitive edge, which I looked at as far as school and education, you're just in the crowd and you just have to take what you can get.