What a Tribute by Griffin Industries

Stephen had worked part time during the summers for Griffin Industries since he was thirteen. He started at the Atlanta plant in Ellenwood working on Saturdays mowing the grass. He eventually graduated to other jobs after he became older. After he moved back to Kentucky, he worked at the fabrication plant, Jay Gee, as an utility worker. In addition to digging ditches and painting, he continued to use the lawnmower. Finally, Stephen advanced to an office position at the Butler operation and began working alongside the field representatives. Occasionally, he would travel with a driver on a grease or fat and bone route.

When Stephen graduated from Georgetown with his Business Administration degree, he was asked to begin working at the corporate office in Cold Spring, Ky., in a pilot management trainee position. He stayed at the corporate office for the next six months training with the Safety department and Human Resources. He moved back to the Butler operation for the next several months and saw first-hand how the plant operated. He even had a few weeks where he worked in the Bakery division. The time came for him to locate back at the corporate office for training in the Enviromental division.

Griffin Industries was the only job that Stephen had ever known and on December 5th, 2009, the family of Griffin Industries presented us with a collage to honor him. A second copy hangs in the gathering area at the corporate office. In addition, they announced a new scholarship they are setting up in his name. This scholarship is one of five they sponsor. The other four belong to Mr. John L. Griffin, Mrs. Rosellen Griffin, Mr. Ronald L. Griffin, and Mr. James K. Griffin. It is truly an honor to be associated in such a list of names.

The group that worked on and designed the collage consisted mainly of three people: Molly Faust, Stephen's lunch buddy and close friend, Brian Griffin, an old friend that eventually became his superior and was like a big brother to him, and Kim Stokelman, a friend in the marketing department. The two written portions of the collage consist of Stephen's "Powerful Smile" and a depiction of Stephen's life. The print in the center is a picture of a gym floor entitled "Return to Heaven" that hung in Brian Griffin's office. Stephen always admired and commented on it. The name plate at the bottom came from his name plate on his desk.