Mr. Darin Rehrig was reared in Walnutport, graduating from Northampton High School in 1991. He started his cement career at the Lafarge Corp. in 1997. Both of Darin's uncles were employed in the industry.

"I started on the tire deck feeding tons of tires into to the kilns," he recalls. "They are a safe alternative fuel. Lately, I transferred to the packhouse and worked as both a packer and forklift operator under a fine supervisor, Mr. Bob Meckes."

Today, Darin is a bulk cement leader. He received excellent training from old-timers Ron Leindecker, James Schneck and Jerome Nederostek. The bulk loader is responsible for filling tank trucks with nine different types of cement. The most requested is Max-Cem cement. Orders are delivered in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia an other areas.

The loading of the trucks is amazing, when one considers the intense labor of the past. Trucks can now be loaded safely with no spillage in less than two minutes.

The "magic powder" is delivered to numerous construction projects in the eastern U.S., for everything from highway to building construction. Lafarge is happy to see its quality cement utilized in many projects which are benefiting America.

"The loading operation covers two shifts, 12 midnight to 5 p.m.," Darin says. "I work closely with Mike Humanick, Robby Taniser and supervisor Barry Schlosser, all fine men. I enjoy working with them and the dozens of truckers who haul from our plant. It is important to develop a cooperative relationship with them. The truckers are vital to our successful operation."

Mr. Rehrig is also the president of the unionized employees at the plant which, along with Keystone Cement, are represented by the United Steel Workers Union. He serves with committeemen Bob Nikisher and Paul Gergel.

Darin has a fantastic musical background. His father leads a popular group that has entertained many of my readers: "Dave Rehrig and Twitty Fever." He and his brother are excellent sound and light technicians working with many groups from "Get the Led Out" to a recent appearance of the "Beach Boys." Darin's vacations and spare time have been a musical adventure.

Mr. Rehrig is amiable and personably molded by his many relationships both at the plant and on the road. He has been married for 18 years to the former Michelle Traugher, a former student of this writer at Northampton High School. They reside in Orefield and are proud of daughters Brianna and McKenzie.

I wish Mr. Rehrig and all my friends at Lafarge continued health and success at the century-old cement plant and hope to return again next year to honor more dedicated cement workers.