It’s rare for a company to gift something truly meaningful or special to its employees. Mike Boock is one of the luckiest men in North Dakota. After working for WCCO Belting in Wahpeton for 40 years, the company decided to reward him with something extraordinary. During a company event, he was initially given a model car as a token of recognition for his hard work. That may have seemed underwhelming at first. However, after lifting the toy, he discovered a key inside the box. And it wasn’t just any key—it was the key to a fully restored 1972 Chevrolet Corvette.
The Corvette is certainly a one-of-a-kind gift. “It’s a beautiful gift. I’m totally amazed,” Boock said upon seeing the yellow car. While employees at WCCO Belting often receive gifts for reaching milestone anniversaries—thanks to company CEO Thomas Shorma’s tradition of showing appreciation—being gifted a classic car was still an incredible surprise.
Boock started working at WCCO Belting when he was just 19 years old, shortly after graduating from high school. He remained with the company, holding various positions over the years. Upon reaching his 40-year milestone and receiving the Corvette, he was working as the Shipping and Receiving Manager. “It says a lot about the family and the family business for them to do something like this for their employees,” the North Dakota man said.
Receiving such an incredible car is bound to make some people a little jealous. What kind of company treats its employees this well? “Y’all hiring?!” one Redditor joked, hoping for a chance at their own special gift.
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that WCCO Belting will be handing out Corvettes to all of its employees. Many Redditors believe this was a one-time gesture. “Guy says the employee asked for a Corvette from the very beginning, 41 years ago, which makes sense since it’s a classic Stingray. It seems he’s not just any employee—he helped build and run the business. Great to see,” another user remarked.
Others began sharing the commemorative gifts they received from their companies, and it’s safe to say they weren’t as lucky as the North Dakota man. Some got $200 gift cards, while others were only given a cookie.
One Redditor mentioned that they had also worked at the same company as Boock but didn’t receive a car. “I worked for the same place for 41 years. When I retired, I got a plaque that said ‘Congratulations on 25 years of service’ because that’s as high as the plaques went,” the user said.
