Trinity Forge marks two 50-year employee milestones

Trinity Forge is celebrating Richard Hughes and Don Moody, who each reached 50 years with the Mansfield, Texas manufacturer. The rare milestone underscores the company’s long-term workforce stability and the institutional knowledge behind its forging and machining operations.

Why it matters: - Richard Hughes and Don Moody each reached 50 years of service at Trinity Forge. - The twin milestones highlight rare employee retention in U.S. manufacturing. - The anniversaries also underscore the value of experience and institutional knowledge in skilled trades.

What happened: - Trinity Forge will recognize Hughes and Moody at an employee celebration on Tuesday, August 25 at 11:30 a.m. at the company’s Mansfield, Texas facility. - Hughes became the first employee in Trinity Forge history to reach 50 years of service. - Moody reached the same milestone shortly after Hughes. - Trinity Forge is based in Mansfield, Texas and was founded in 1955.

The details: - Hughes joined Trinity Forge in 1976 after graduating from high school. - He started in the forge department working alongside his father and brothers. - Hughes later moved into the die shop, where he served as supervisor for many years. - He now works in Trinity Forge’s engineering department as an engineering technician. - Moody first joined Trinity Forge in 1967. - Moody later served two years as a U.S. Army infantry soldier during the Vietnam War. - Moody worked as a forging hammer operator before moving into quality control. - He became one of Trinity Forge’s first quality control inspectors. - Moody later served as a forging supervisor. - He now works as a Quality Assurance Specialist. - Trinity Forge says its products must meet rigorous quality requirements and customer specifications. - The company describes itself as a modern closed-die forging and precision machining manufacturer. - Trinity Forge produces built-to-print metal components for aerospace, agriculture, automotive, defense, mining, oil and gas, power generation, and railway and mass transit customers. - The company is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified. - Trinity Forge’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - Hughes and Moody have spent their careers watching Trinity Forge move from mechanical board hammers and gas furnaces to modern forging, machining, engineering and quality systems. - The company is emphasizing continuity at a time when manufacturers are trying to retain and transfer specialized skills across generations. - CEO John Fairbanks said the two employees’ knowledge, dedication and commitment to quality reflect the values that have helped Trinity Forge succeed for more than seven decades. - Fairbanks also said Hughes and Moody are an important part of the company’s history and a resource for the next generation of workers.

What’s next: - Trinity Forge will honor both employees at the August 25 celebration. - Hughes and Moody will continue in their current roles, carrying experience built over five decades into the company’s next chapter.

The bottom line: - Trinity Forge is turning two employee anniversaries into a broader statement about craftsmanship, continuity and the long payoff of keeping skilled workers for decades.