Pictured: Charles, Raymond Sr., & Raymond Sears Jr.

Gillian Sears recalls that nine members of the Sears family worked at ALCO, beginning in 1942 with her grandfather Raymond Hatch Sears Sr.

Nine members of the Sears family have worked at Alco. “The first to work there was Raymond Hatch Sears Sr., my paternal grandfather. He started work there in 1942 during World War II, and remained for approximately eight years. Raymond worked in the assembly department on turbo chargers. 

Prior to July 1946, my paternal uncles, Robert Norman Sears and Donald Gordon Sears, worked at ALCO in the assembly department, but by July 1946 they were no longer working there. Robert had joined the United States Army Air Corps on December 13, 1945 and Donald went back to his studies at Cato-Meridian High School. Most likely both of them, along with their father, went to work at the factory to assist the war efforts associated with World War II and since the war was over, they were able to move on to other pursuits or return to the focus they had prior to the war. It should be noted that Donald was born on January 14, 1929 which would have made him 17 years old in July 1946 and he had been working at ALCO prior to that. 

In July 1946, my father and paternal uncle, Raymond Hatch Sears Jr. and Charles Allen Sears, worked for ALCO. Raymond Jr. worked on a grinder and Charles worked in the assembly department. Raymond Jr. had recently served in the Anti-Aircraft Corps of General George Patton’s Third Army for three years while Charles served in the United States 45th Division Army and saw action in Anzio, Italy, approximately 20 miles south of Rome, as well as France. Raymond Jr. would continue with ALCO until January 1987 when he retired, while Charles would go to work for Fingerlakes Press, Inc. for 39 years as a journeyman pressman with Local 284 Graphic Communication International Union.

Myron Lemczak, who married my paternal first cousin, Cynthia Ann Sears, started work with ALCO in 1971 in the Payroll Department. Myron then transitioned to a position where he was responsible for the safety and health, security, OSHA compliance, and workmen’s compensation as a Risk Manager and he continued until approximately 1991.

James Allen Sears, my brother, started work at ALCO as an International Parts Salesman in August 1979. This job included sales with large companies needing replacement parts for various diesel engines all over the world. In February 1980, James was offered a promotion to International Parts Sales Manager while traveling on business in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but he was told that he would be out of the country typically six to nine months out of the year in his new position. With five children at home, James declined the offer. Unfortunately ALCO would not allow him to keep his current position or gain another position in the company and they prevented him from gaining unemployment. Their actions caused ALCO being fined by the State of New York for labor law violations. James was able to acquire another position as a salesman with Lindberg Heat Treating in Rochester, Monroe County, New York almost immediately after losing his position at ALCO.”