BFGoodrich plant closes

Bennie Coulter waited in the parking lot at BFGoodrich in Opelika Friday afternoon to greet his fellow co-workers as they left work for the final time and to watch the 46-year-old tire manufacturing plant close its doors forever.

Coulter, 46, of Beulah admitted he had a hard time accepting the decision from Michelin North America officials in April to cease all operations at the facility by Oct. 31.

With tears forming in his eyes, he paused before describing the past six months as emotional.

Coulter said his father started working at the plant in 1963 when it first opened to manufacture tires under the Uniroyal label. Coulter followed his father and made a career for nearly 26 years until he left a few weeks ago. About 400 workers left the plant Friday.

“It’s just hard to believe,” he said. “I still see what the plant used to be, and that’s all coming to an end.”

Coulter may have landed the job because of his father’s employment, but he said he stayed because of the work and the people. He said he feels spoiled for being able to work first shift and have six weeks of vacation.

“It’s hard to find a job like that,” he said. But he’s going to try, perhaps by returning to school to be a mechanic. “I’ve got to. I have no choice.”

David Estes, 39 of Beauregard, joined the production staff at the Opelika plant nearly 18 years ago, thanks to his father who also started work at the plant’s inception, but he didn’t expect to be leaving under these circumstances.

“We all take job security for granted until it happens to us,” he said.

Estes said he’s been looking for a job since he was laid off three months ago, “but there’s just not a whole lot out there.” If he can find a job with a decent wage so he can provide for his two children, Estes said he’d take it. If not, he’ll likely go back to school to study whatever best suits a former extruder operator.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” he said.

Phyllis Nelms, 47, of Auburn wouldn’t have left BFGoodrich had the plant’s closure not have encouraged her and approximately 1,000 other wage and salaried workers to seek employment elsewhere. She considered herself lucky to have been with the company for nearly 22 years.

“It’s been a good ride, but everything has to come to an end sometime,” she said.

At this stage, Nelms said she has no desire to return to school. She’d rather face the challenge of searching for a job, a task she hasn’t had to do for more than two decades.

“As long as I got my utilities and something to eat, I’ll be alright,” he said.

Tate Hoxworth, a spokesperson for Michelin North America, said about 20 Opelika employees have accepted jobs at the BFGoodrich plant in Tuscaloosa, while one has gone on to the plant in Fort Wayne, Ind.