Employees Pitch in to Help RV Company Destroyed by Tornado

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Employees Pitch in to Help RV Company Destroyed by Tornado

Franklin Coach, a family-run RV business, was virtually wiped out by the tornado that hit Nappanee. Many employees rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help clean up. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Oct 23, 2007 at 2:59 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 29, 2007 at 9:40 PM EST

(WSBT) Some RV firms suffered millions of dollars in damages following Thursday's tornado. Franklin Coach, a family-run business, was virtually wiped out.

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But workers have already rolled up their sleeves to get the company running again.

Some employees told WSBT News they felt it was very important to help out their company, and they plan on being there as long as it takes.

It’s been like that since the Franklin Coach RV firm took a direct hit by the tornado — workers with the family run business doing what they can to help clean up and eventually rebuild.

Four of the company buildings were destroyed by the severe weather.

“I couldn't hardly believe that the whole plant went down,” said Cecil Fitzgerald, who has been employed at Franklin Coach for 35 years. “I expected maybe part of it, but not the whole plant like it did. It was totaled."

Employees said they were devastated by what they saw at first light following the touchdown of the tornado, but all agreed that it’s up to them to get the company back up and running.

“They just all come in, all just pitch in to do whatever they can and they pretty well know what needs to be done, so that's what they are doing," Fitzgerald explained.

"We said, ‘Let’s go!’” said Titus Ramer, a Franklin Coach employee for 36 years. “And I realize there's going to have to be some different arrangements, but we’ll get it done."

"I mean it was gone, it was devastated,” said 24-year employee Patrick Gilley. “But I know with all the people here, we're gonna clean it up, we're gonna go.”

Those in this close knit community are willing to help out wherever they can.

"I think this little community, everybody just pitched in, and no questions, they just all jumped right in and went to work for whatever needed to be done,” Fitzgerald told WSBT News. “There's just help all over."

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