Chief Wastewater Plant Operator Tilden Fulmer is retiring this month after more than 44 years of service to Conway Corp and the Conway community.
Tilden joined Conway Corp as a plant operator in 1979. After years of dedicated service, he was promoted to chief plant operator in 1998.
In this role, Tilden assisted the plant superintendent while operating and maintaining stationary mechanical equipment such as water pumping equipment engines, air compressors, generators, motors, turbines, chemical insertion units, etc. to provide utilities services to the city of Conway.
Throughout his time with the company, Tilden saw many changes.
“We had three electric crews and three water crews when I started,” he said. “I’ve seen hundreds of people come and go and four CEOs since I’ve been here. It’s time to let the younger generation come in and work.”
Tilden recalled a storm that threatened to flood the plant and several parts of Conway in 2019.
“There was a flood from heavy rainstorms coming in from Oklahoma that really had us worried,” he said. “We were worried that the levy would overflow and flood our plant. We had to sandbag our plant just in case to make sure that the water didn’t come in on us. We worked around the clock, and luckily, it didn’t happen.”
After serving his company and community for many years, Tilden’s co-workers said his work ethic and dedication will be missed.
“I worked with Tilden over 44 years,” Conway Corp Wastewater Plant Superintendent Bill Fulmer said. “He always worked hard, helping to keep our plants at peak efficiency. He will be greatly missed by everyone he worked with. It will never be the same with him not being here.”
Tilden describes his retirement as “bittersweet,” but said he is looking forward to his free time.
“I’m looking forward to doing a lot more hunting and fishing and going to the lake, of course, and spending more time with my daughter Trista,” he said. “But I’m going to definitely miss working with such a great group of guys at the plant. They have been like family to me.”
He bragged about not only his co-workers but the leadership team as well.
“It’s been good working under Bill Fulmer and management,” he said. “All jobs will have some ups and downs when you’ve been at a job this long, but it’s been a great experience, especially under the current administration.”
He leaves us with this advice:
“This is a great job, with great benefits. Stick with it long enough and you’ll be able to make a good living.”
Congrats, Tilden!
