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Franklin, Ind., Warehouse Manager Kevin Pharr, left, accepts a U.S. Department of Defense "patriotic employer" recognition certificate from warehouseman Kevin Tucker, a U.S. Army Reserve specialist.

Cooper, Warehouse Manager
Earn DOD Medal for Support

Franklin, Ind., Warehouse Manager Kevin Pharr and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company have been recognized as a "patriotic employer" by the U.S. Department of Defense's National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Kevin and Cooper earned the honor for their support of warehouseman Kevin Tucker, a U.S. Army Reserve specialist. Last September, Kevin Tucker had a three-day AR battle assembly that required his attendance on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The warehouse manager allowed him to work 10-hour days preceding his time off so he wouldn't lose any regular pay. Then in November, the manager permitted Kevin Tucker's Army Reserve officer to bring a re-enlistment contract to the warehouse and have Kevin sign it.

Nominating the warehouse manager for the honor, Kevin Tucker wrote, "The warehouse opened less than six months ago, and every person is needed to ensure our success. It would be very easy for him to give me a hard time about the time off I require for the Army Reserve, but he has been nothing but supportive.

"I have been told by fellow soldiers in my unit that I need to keep this job as long as
I am in the Reserve because their bosses aren't as understanding or supportive," Kevin Tucker wrote.

If anyone should understand what it's like to be in the military, it's Kevin Pharr: The warehouse manager served in the U.S. Navy from 1987-1992 as part of Desert Storm and earned several medals for above-and-beyond service.

In recognition of their support for the warehouseman's service, Kevin Pharr and Cooper received a medal and certificate from the U.S. Department of Defense.

"I was totally caught off guard. I came in, and it was on my desk," the manager said of the honor, adding that he planned to frame and display the certificate prominently.

It meant a lot to him that Kevin Tucker took the time to nominate him for the award, the manager said. Yet he didn't hesitate a moment about working with the warehouseman to accommodate his AR service.

"It's been Cooper's Way since I've been with them, going on 18 years, to work with our loyal employees," Kevin Pharr said. "Cooper takes care of its employees, and in turn, these guys that we have out here, they're very loyal and dedicated to Cooper."