A Veterans Day Tribute to a Training Coordinator at Waupaca Foundry
Megan Mulholland | Waupaca FoundryRandy Williams’ dedication to our nation and Waupaca Foundry serves as an inspiration. His service in the U.S. Army and his role as a plant training coordinator at Plant 5 in Tell City, Indiana, are testaments to the value of leadership, discipline, and service.
Williams grew up in Evansville, Indiana, before moving to Tell City in the eighth grade. He graduated from high school in 1985 and entered the Army, where he served for 14 years, becoming a sergeant. His career included deployments in Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Middle East and assignments in Germany, Korea, and El Salvador. As a diesel mechanic, Williams was critical in ensuring mission-ready equipment. “Being a mechanic, I could pretty much go with any unit,” he said.
He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and deployed to Wildflecken, Germany, with the Combat Engineers. He was then stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he met his wife, Dawn. They married before Williams’ next assignment in Nuremberg, Germany.
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But military life was not easy. His deployments strained family life, especially with three children at home. “It was too many deployments. My wife and three kids were in Fort Campbell for four years, but I was there 1½ to 2 years because of training exercises and deployments,” Williams reflected.
After serving at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Korea, and then assisting with Hurricane Mitch recovery efforts in El Salvador, Williams left the Army. His parents suggested Waupaca Foundry, and his initial thought was, “What is that?” At the time, Plant 5, a gray and ductile iron foundry located in Tell City, Ind., was newly established, having been operational for two years. However, local employment opportunities were limited primarily to the service industry.
He joined Waupaca Foundry in November 1999 as part of the maintenance team. His leadership and dedication were soon recognized, and he steadily advanced through roles. His talent for training and mentoring others stood out, leading to his promotion in June 2024 as the Plant 5 training coordinator.
“The Army sends you to a lot of the same type of courses available in Waupaca Foundry as you advance through your career,” he explained. “As a noncommissioned officer in the Army, one of the big things is training members of your squad. When I was asked to be a trainer in the mill room, it fell right in my wheelhouse. It was stuff I was used to doing.”
The discipline in the military translated to his civilian work at Waupaca Foundry. “The way things are structured: you do things this way, you follow this process, you do this procedure, you follow these steps,” he said. “It’s the same thing as what you find in the military... They show you multiple times over and over how to do it because they want it to become muscle memory.”
The camaraderie of the military is also similar at Waupaca Foundry. His son served in the military, and his grandson, Tyrique King, works in the molding department at Waupaca Foundry.
Williams reflected on his long tenure at the gray and ductile iron supplier. “When I first started, I didn’t intend it to be my career path. I am so glad I stayed and stuck it out and ended where I am.”
His journey reminds us that the qualities honed through military service — leadership, perseverance, and commitment — carry forward, enriching and strengthening our workforce.
Waupaca Foundry is proud to employ many people who are veterans. Ten percent of our employees have served in uniform, and we thank them for their service.
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Williams grew up in Evansville, Indiana, before moving to Tell City in the eighth grade. He graduated from high school in 1985 and entered the Army, where he served for 14 years, becoming a sergeant. His career included deployments in Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Middle East and assignments in Germany, Korea, and El Salvador. As a diesel mechanic, Williams was critical in ensuring mission-ready equipment. “Being a mechanic, I could pretty much go with any unit,” he said.
Retired Army Veteran and Plant 5 Training Coordinator, Randy Williams, stands proudly by the flags at Waupaca Foundry's Plant 5.
After serving at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Korea, and then assisting with Hurricane Mitch recovery efforts in El Salvador, Williams left the Army. His parents suggested Waupaca Foundry, and his initial thought was, “What is that?” At the time, Plant 5, a gray and ductile iron foundry located in Tell City, Ind., was newly established, having been operational for two years. However, local employment opportunities were limited primarily to the service industry.
He joined Waupaca Foundry in November 1999 as part of the maintenance team. His leadership and dedication were soon recognized, and he steadily advanced through roles. His talent for training and mentoring others stood out, leading to his promotion in June 2024 as the Plant 5 training coordinator.
“The Army sends you to a lot of the same type of courses available in Waupaca Foundry as you advance through your career,” he explained. “As a noncommissioned officer in the Army, one of the big things is training members of your squad. When I was asked to be a trainer in the mill room, it fell right in my wheelhouse. It was stuff I was used to doing.”
The discipline in the military translated to his civilian work at Waupaca Foundry. “The way things are structured: you do things this way, you follow this process, you do this procedure, you follow these steps,” he said. “It’s the same thing as what you find in the military... They show you multiple times over and over how to do it because they want it to become muscle memory.”
The camaraderie of the military is also similar at Waupaca Foundry. His son served in the military, and his grandson, Tyrique King, works in the molding department at Waupaca Foundry.
Williams reflected on his long tenure at the gray and ductile iron supplier. “When I first started, I didn’t intend it to be my career path. I am so glad I stayed and stuck it out and ended where I am.”
His journey reminds us that the qualities honed through military service — leadership, perseverance, and commitment — carry forward, enriching and strengthening our workforce.
Waupaca Foundry is proud to employ many people who are veterans. Ten percent of our employees have served in uniform, and we thank them for their service.
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