At a Dillard’s in Tyler, Texas, Melba Mebane is something of a regular. In fact, Mebane has over seven decades of employment under her belt and on Saturday, June 10, she celebrated retirement, after watching many of her colleagues start out at the department store chain and retire before her.
Mebane’s journey begins all the way back in 1949. At that time, she started as an elevator operator. For some more fun context, Dillard’s dates back to 1938; that’s just a bit over a decade’s difference in their time together. Across both her own and Dillard’s journey together, Mebane then went to the men’s clothing department and later cosmetology.
Melba Mebane cements her place as a part of Dillard’s history
In fact, notes NBC15, Mebane, today 90 years old, started at Dillard’s before it was even referred to by its modern name. William T. Dillard led an investment group that acquired Mayer & Schmidt store in Mebane’s very own Tyler, Texas. This location became Dillard’s Mayer & Schmidt, keeping up the trend of Dillard’s heavy presence in Texas – in addition to its dozens of locations in Florida and Arkansas.
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Today, Drue Dillard Matheny serves as vice president of Dillard’s, and Matheny has known Mebane for a whopping 65 years. “She is the happiest most ‘up’ person,” says Matheny, “gives so much service to the community. She’s made so many friends. I would come watch her in cosmetics and just go, ‘I wish I could be like that,’ because she was incredible with people. Still is.”
A retirement party that’s been a long time in the making
Mebane has almost 74 years of working at Dillard’s to celebrate – and those associated with the chain have a lot to celebrate thanks to Melba Mebane. “She really enjoyed the conversations with the people,” shared her son, Terry. For her unrelenting dedication, Mebane was presented with a certificate of excellence, as the longest-working employee there.
“We love you,” said Matheny. “You’ve been one of the most important people at Dillard’s for 70 years, and we love you and God bless you.” The feelings are mutual.
“I loved everybody there,” gushed Mebane, “and I loved to go to work every day.” But this has been a long time coming. “Most of the fellow employees had all retired,” she further revealed, “and it was kind of a new generation. So, she decided, ‘May be time to go do something fun.'” That “something fun” will include eating good food, resting at last, and getting in some exciting traveling in. Congratulations, Melba Mebane!
