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Meet Pretty Willie

Summary: 
President Obama introduces the world to "Pretty Willie" Carter — a man who has clocked in at Detroit Diesel for 60 years.
President Barack Obama greets

President Barack Obama greets "Pretty Willie" Willie Carter after delivering remarks at the Daimler Detroit Diesel Facility in Redford, Michigan, Dec. 10, 2012. The President mentioned Carter, a long-time employee of the company, during the remarks. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Yesterday, President Obama introduced the world to "Pretty Willie" Carter — a man who has clocked in at Detroit Diesel for 60 years. The only other job he ever worked was fighting for his country in the Korean War. Through six decades, he's only been late to work once, and it was so long ago, he can't even remember why.

Here's what President Obama said about Pretty Willie:

"Willie believes in hard work. You don’t keep a job for 60 years if you don’t work hard. Sooner or later, someone is going to fire you if you don’t work hard. He takes pride in being part of something bigger than himself. He's committed to family; he's committed to community; he's committed to country. That’s how Willie lives his life. That’s how all of you live your lives."

"And that makes me hopeful about the future, because you're out there fighting every day for a better future for your family and your country. And when you do that, that means you're creating value all across this economy. You're inspiring people. You're being a good example for your kids. That’s what makes America great."

Learn more about President Obama's trip to Detroit Diesel.