The Hodge Guest House was filled with familiar faces and warm conversation on March 26 as retirees gathered for the Annual Retiree Breakfast, a tradition that continues to honor the people who built the foundation of success at the Hodge Mill.

Guests enjoyed a freshly cooked breakfast of pancakes, ham, sausage, and eggs while catching up with former coworkers and reminiscing about the paper mill days. For many, this yearly gathering is less about the menu and more about the chance to reconnect with those who shared decades of hard work, stories, and camaraderie.

Interim GM Rick Whiddon addressed the group with an update on the current state of the mill and Todd Pyles gave an overview of ongoing capital efforts. Their remarks underscored the continued importance of the retirees’ contributions and the legacy they helped create.

What makes this event so special is the way it brings people back together — not just to remember the past, but to celebrate the community spirit that still binds them. The Annual Retiree Breakfast remains a heartfelt reminder that the mill’s history lives on through the people who built it.

Slideshow of Annual Retiree Breakfast

(to view slides, click on arrows shown on left or right)