“Think about it,” Scherrer said.
She waited a few seconds, and with a smile, added: “And I’ve eaten pretty well.”
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Scherrer’s husband, Dan Scherrer, 70, started at the research center in August 1969 when he was a co-op student at the University of Cincinnati.
“Never left,” said Scherrer, who was 20 at the time. “Never wanted to.”
He retired Jan. 10, 2020, the same day as his 50th wedding anniversary. Two major milestones. One date to remember. Smart guy, this Dan Keith Scherrer.
His retirement ended a 79-year consecutive year streak of having at least one Scherrer at the research center.
At the research center in 1969, Scherrer joined his father, Elmer, who worked there from 1941 to the early 1980s. Elmer Scherrer served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, then returned to the research center after the war because the company left his position open.
So when Dan considered a job in college, he naturally looked at the research center, then located on Curtis Street. If it was good enough for his father, it was good enough for him, Dan figured.
He found a job and later a wife there, too. Adriane Scherrer’s father, Wayne Granzow, worked in research and since he knew Elmer Scherrer, he allowed his daughter to date Dan.
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“He figured I was safe,” Adriane said.
They were married on Jan. 10, 1970 and recently celebrated with a 50/50 Party, a 50-year wedding anniversary and a 50-year retirement party. The Scherrers have two sons, Bryan, 44, in management at JC Penney Distribution Center in Columbus and Aaron, 42, an advanced placement chemistry teacher at Winton Woods High School.
Through his 50 years in research, Scherrer was promoted numerous times and moved offices from downtown Middletown to the $36 million facility on Interstate 75 in Middletown. As far as interstate landmarks, Monroe has Solid Rock Church, Middletown has the AK Steel Research and Innovation Center.
If you’re impressed by the building’s facade, you should meet the employees, Scherrer said.
“What’s critical is the people inside,” he said. “I was afforded an opportunity to be mentored and they had the expertise and the depth. Then I became a mentor to them. I hope I was a good mentor.”
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His wife interrupted: “Please, they text you every day. You are still mentoring.”
Scherrer, sitting in his wife’s small business incubator office on Central Avenue, was asked what comes to mind when he thinks about Armco that later became AK Steel. Fifty years of a man’s life — the blink of an eye — seemed to flash before Scherrer. He went from a 21-year-old rookie to a 70-year-old retiree.
“For me it was about opportunity,” he said. “The makings of a company…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. Tears streamed down his face.
“He’s kind of sad to be gone,” his wife said.
Then he continued. “The makings of a company: One is to be given opportunity. Being shown trust and respect, a two-way street. Being recognized for the work you do. And working for a company that’s active in the community. AK Steel wasn’t just about AK Steel. That comes at a cost to the company. That’s not free. Somebody is paying for it. Those are all the things that kept me here.”
Then he talked about his managers. He had plenty in 50 years.
“They would listen,” he said. “People don’t always like the decision that comes back down. But at least they listened. I trusted and respected our upper management and they reflected that back down.”
Scherrer realized he was sounding like he was filming a commercial for AK.
“I may have to call Sue (Hudson) and go back to work,” he said about his supervisor.
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It’s amazing Scherrer had time to work and volunteer for 50 hours a month at Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Monroe. He typically arrived at work before everyone and was the last to leave. No one turned on and off more lights in the office than Scherrer.
He was paid to work 40 hours a week. He never worked less than 50.
“I liked it that much,” he said.
Like father. Like son.
And don’t forget like father-in-law.
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