30/09/2026
Melba Mebane 74 Years Dillard’s — 17 to 90 Never Missed Day Beyond Excellence
At 17, Melba Mebane started working at Dillard's. At 90, she finally decided it was time to retire. That's incredible 74 years at same company.
What verified:
• Timeline: Tyler, Texas — started 1949 at age 17 as elevator operator / elevator girl at Mayer & Schmidt, which later became Dillard’s in 1956 — retired June/July 2023 at age 90 — nearly 74 years same store — 74 years one workplace
• Journey: Started elevator operator, then moved into men’s clothing and cosmetics / cosmetology — temporary cover sick colleague turned permanent — stayed 50+ years in cosmetics — arrived 9-9:15am daily for 10am opening to secure parking spot in colossal car park — store manager James Saenz said practically grew up at workplace, dubbed “grinder”
• Perfect attendance: Never called in sick or missed day of work in 7 decades per Fox News, Goalcast, LadBible, Tuko, Odisha Bytes — “I loved everybody there, and I loved to go to work every day” told KLTV at retirement celebration June 2023 — final straw 30-min commute increasingly difficult • Honor: When finally retired store honored with special Beyond Excellence award from manager James Saenz — plaque immortalized at outlet “for as long as Dillard’s is around” — retirement party June 2023 — SouthernLiving, WVLT, UNILAD coverage
• Legacy: Lifetime dedication — saga, not just job — Texas woman sets attendance record
Source: SouthernLiving June 22 2023 — Tyler woman retires nearly 74 years, KLTV/WVLT, UNILAD — final straw commute, Goalcast, LadBible, WIXX 101, BrightSide, Tuko.co.ke, InShorts
