Riggs, Jim

Interview 270a: In this interview with Jonathan Gerland, Jim Riggs reminisces about his career working for Lufkin Industries. Starting out as a new college graduate in the Trailer Division in 1959 and continuing to when he retired as a vice president in Human Resources in the 1980’s, Mr. Riggs describes the changes in the trailer business as the division moved from downtown Lufkin to the Buck Creek facility outside of town, as the trailer manufacturing process became more mechanized and efficient, as he moved to the Welding and Fabrication Department as Vice President and General Manager and then to Human Resources to finish his career. He talks about the competitiveness of the trailer industry and recalls some of the challenges Lufkn faced in this facet of their business. He also discusses the changes in manufacturing processes and materials, and well as the emphasis on safety.