Employee gifted 'toy car' for 40 years of loyal service—then his boss asked him to look again in toy case

Loyalty in the workplace often spans years, but rarely does it get the kind of recognition that stops a room cold. Often, it is acknowledged with a handshake, a plaque or perhaps a few words of appreciation at a holiday gathering. However, one company took the opportunity to honor one of their employees for completing 40 years in a way that spoke volumes. This rare moment unfolded in front of more than 200 employees at WCCO Belting’s holiday social in Wahpeton, North Dakota. It was caught on video and shared by Karley Shorma (@undkar on YouTube), a third-generation WCCO employee. Though it originally happened in 2012, the footage recently resurfaced when it was posted to Instagram by @simplyougrow.

Mike Boock, the shipping and receiving manager at the time, had planned to attend the party like any other. Most attendees expected a small program and a lighthearted roast. No one, including Boock, knew what was about to happen. Toward the end of the evening, WCCO President Thomas Shorma handed Boock a small box. Inside was a model car, and the room laughed as Boock pulled it out. Then, Thomas asked Boock to look inside the box once again. The second time, Boock found a key. Boock was unsure what to make of it until the back doors of the Wahpeton Eagles Club opened, with the sound of an engine echoing through the space and a fully restored 1972 Corvette rolling inside.

It matched the toy car in Boock's hand and the key in the box. "I'm on top of the world. Never expected anything like this. This is beautiful," Boock said, still holding the key. The surprise had been carefully planned by the Shorma family, who founded the business in 1954. Boock's Corvette was not only fully restored but chosen specifically to match the year he started his job. Shorma explained why it mattered. "If someone is willing to dedicate forty years of his or her life to our family business, this is the least we can do," he said, per the YouTube caption. Boock's career began when he took a break from science school and picked up what he thought would be a part-time job in 1972.

Four decades later, he had become a fixture at the company and a consistent presence behind the scenes. Colleagues described him as dependable, low-key, and someone who quietly stepped in whenever a job needed to be done. "If a truck came late or if an order needed to go out early, Mike was just there, and he just did it. Not because somebody told him he had to, but because that was the right thing to do," one coworker shared.

The clip gained attention from viewers moved by the rare and thoughtful recognition. In the comments, many shared their admiration and comparisons. @rjsamira wrote, "Well deserved, well delivered, well honored! Respect." @martincollinsdj said, "Moments like this are when the internet and social media win. So special." @dhara.naikk added, "That’s the respect, which makes employees work for 40 years." @laquitarachelle96 commented, "This is [amazing]! For 20 years of service, I received a cutting board with the company logo." @whiskey_george_ joked, "The guy who quit after 39 years has to be kicking himself right now."

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