Wayne Gilliam Reaches 50 Year Milestone

BY COREY ESPY

As of February 2020, Wayne Gilliam reached the milestone of 50 years of service to Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative. During those 50 years, Wayne has seen many changes in the Cooperative system. Wayne has worked with many different employees and two store locations. This is a momentous achievement of a career by any stretch.

Wayne was raised in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area on his family’s farm by his mother, father, two sisters and two brothers. Wayne went to Northside High School, which is just outside of Tuscaloosa in Northport, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. Around this time, there were 250,000 young men called up to the military for the Vietnam War and Wayne was one of those men.

During his stint in the military, Wayne spent time at Fort Polk in Louisiana for basic training and Advanced Individual Training. He then moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, for NCO School and infantry training. After his training at Fort Polk and Fort Benning, he served one year in Vietnam with time spent in Saigon during the Tet Offensive. Once he returned, Wayne extended his service for one more year because of the lack of jobs in his area. During his post-tour service, Wayne taught recon for the Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, which included time teaching soldiers from Tuscaloosa. He left the army in January 1971 and went to work for Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative.

When Wayne originally came to work for Tuscaloosa Farmers Co-op, the store was located in downtown Tuscaloosa on Fourth Street where the Co-op leased a building. When Wayne started, he worked in the warehouse, made deliveries and worked the counter under Bud Taylor who was the general manager at the time. As time went on and Wayne learned the Co-op, he began running the store on days when Bud was away. After Bud left, Wayne was named general manager and began preparations for building a new store, which was built soon after.

Wayne and the Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative have been in this location on McFarland Boulevard in Northport ever since. Wayne said that his secret for such a long career was his love of working with people and the change of pace that happens from day to day. “You have to be able to do it all at the Co-op,” Wayne said. “Blending fertilizer, running the sales counter and bookkeeping. You have to wear many different hats.”

Wayne attributed his longevity in one career path to his upbringing. “I was taught that when you start something, you become the best that you can be, at whatever it may be,” Wayne said. “If you want to be a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger out there.”

Wayne added that he didn’t mind the hard work even if it meant leaving his house before his kids got up in the morning and getting home after they were in bed that night.

Wayne’s outlook on the future of the Co-op is bright and he is taking the steps to ensure better service to the customers of Tuscaloosa County for many years to come. His theory on staying ahead is making sure that when changes are made, they are made for the better. To ensure success continues after his career comes to a close, his beliefs and lessons have all been instilled to his son, Cole, the store manager. “One key to being successful is having good communication, having a plan in order and being able to keep great employees year after year,” Wayne added.

AFC would like to congratulate Wayne on his 50 years of service and his commitment to excellence for his customers.