by Sybil J.
In 1971,
Lockheed was on the verge of bankruptcy due to an ill-advised contract. The
company was in need of a loan, but banks refused unless there was a government-backed
guarantee. The public outcry was enormous. As a result, a letter-writing
campaign was formed and employees were offered the opportunity to volunteer, on
our own time, to participate.
Hundreds of us
answered the call. We were given a list of names and addresses of our
congressmen in Washington and a sample letter with the stipulation that all
communications had to be hand-written or they would not be read. They got the
message. The senior United States Senator from California, Alan Cranston, and
others, secured enough support to pass the necessary legislation. Lockheed received
the loan, which was repaid with interest.
I worked in
Sunnyvale from October 1958 until I retired in March 1999. I feel I had a small
part in helping save the company and my job in 1971.
