Page 10 - 2015 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine

Jobbie Nooner June 27, 2014 at Gull Island

Photo courtesy of Chip Miller

Why is June 27, 1977 available. Jobbies were like nomads Jack Campbell (left) with one of his two
with work. They would get a contract passengers that day in 1977...Lee O’Dell
important to us for a new program, finish it in a mat-
boaters on ter of a few months, or a few years...
then they had to look for the next pro-
Lake St. Clair? gram. Also, because it was the 70’s, the
1960’s business day style had carried

through (TV show “Mad Men” good

It was 1977… It was turning out to example) and going out to lunch and

be a really hot June… Working at Creative having a couple of drinks was not just

Industries, Jack and his designer friends common, but a normal lunch. Some-

were working on an upcoming Gen- Jack (center) driving the first boat
eral Motors’ Corvette series. The to the original Jobbie Nooner
weather forecast for the week was to

be almost 90, sunny, and low winds was not unusual, but you didn’t want to

…. Jack’s 33rd birthday was coming push it. If you were a solid performer,

up … To celebrate, Jack called for pulling an occasional nooner was nor-

a “jobbie nooner” on Friday. And mally overlooked by your boss… and

that’s how it started! the boss was encouraged to participate of

If you’re like a lot of us in the De- course!

troit area, we have or had something The very first Lake St. Clair Job-

to do with the automotive business. bie Nooner for boating revelry was held

For at least the last 25 years, the Big at Strawberry Island. There were six

3 have used outside companies to fill boats with about 25 jobbies from Jack’s

internal positions with “contract” work. At the end of the hot day, the

employees to do a majority of the de- group did a pub crawl while stopping at

sign work to make up the drawings several peoples’ homes on the lake.

for each individual component to Since the first year was such a

build a vehicle. Before the term “contract” times, your lunch would run a little long, success, the following year, and for years

employee was used, these component de- and the typical two drinks would turn into into the 1990’s, Jobbie Nooner was then

signers were known as “Jobbies.” several and you would not return to work. held in the more protected waters of Fisher

During most of the 1970’s, times This was known as pulling a “nooner.” A Bay the last Friday in June around Jack’s

were good, and there was a lot of work nooner with the jobbies, according to Jack, birthday. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12...
Page 10
The author, publisher, or seller assumes no liability with respect to the use of information contained herein