The Daily Record
Commissioners Honor Godwin Manufacturing
By SHAUN SAVARESE
Of The Record Staff
“I’m not smart enough to know that I can’t do it.”
That is what the sign that hangs in Pat Godwin’s office reads. A phrase shared with him by a traveling salesman who promised many years ago that he would provide him with a slogan.
“I’m not smart enough to know that I can’t do it, and the Lord has helped me all the way. That much you can be assured of,” Mr. Godwin said after being presented from the Harnett County Board of Commissioners with a proclamation congratulating Godwin Manufacturing on 50 years of business.
“Fifty years ago inflation was 3.1 percent, the Dow was 785, the average home price was $14,200, a gallon of gas was 42 cents, we had 250,000 troops in Vietnam, Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California, Walt Disney died, ‘The Sound of Music’ won the Oscar for Best Picture and. ..
Muhammad Ali was Heavyweight Champion of the World … one thing else happened, Pat Godwin started a small business,” Harnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jim Burgin said.
“On behalf of the Harnett County Commissioners, we thank you, we are proud that you started your business here and thankful you kept your business here. You have put hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy, creating good jobs and supporting local causes. While 64 percent of our workforce has to leave the county for employment, you have created hundreds of jobs right here in your county. Pat, you made Harnett County a better place,” Mr. Burgin said.
• $100 Million Campany
“In the past 10 or 12 years we have become known as the largest privately-held corporation in America to build truck equipment. We hope, and we are on target to be a $100 million corporation this year. We are creating jobs, we are hiring almost every day and we are expanding like wildfire,” Mr. Godwin said. “I can stand here and tell you that I never tried a case in court, I‘ve never been indicted for anything, I’ve never been in a dispute with any state or federal agent over my contracts … . I’ve always thought that I know how to do it and apparently I do… I’m just happy with my children being involved and the people I have and the fine county with which I am in.”
Harnett County Board of Commissioners officially expressed appreciation to Pat Godwin for keeping his globally-known truck manufacturing company local for 50 years. From left are Commissioner Gordon Springle, Commissioner Barbara McKoy, Godwin Manufacturing President Pat Godwin Jr., Godwin Manufacturing Founder Pat Godwin, Godwin Manufacturing Vice President Phyllis Norris, Commissioner Jim Burgin, Commissioner Abe Elmore and Commissioner Joe Miller.
Daily Record Photo/Shaun Savarese
