"The proposal for the Lubomir Simcak award came from us spontaneously, with regard to his previous work, the results of his work and his long-term loyalty to the factory. Few people know our operation so well. Lubo is always willing to advise and help, both in terms of work and people," say Patrik Staurovsky , Executive Manager for ores stockyard and Central transhipment facility of ores and Dusan Ivanisin, Head of the Production Preparation at DP Blast Furnaces (DZ Vysoke pece), about their colleague.
Lubomir Simcak, the holder of the For Work Loyalty award since September 11, 2026, has been loyal to his company for 44 years. He joined the Kosice ironworks in 1982: "I went through various functions. I worked in blue-collar professions, as a locker at the dispatching center, dispatcher... "
He currently works as a controller in control room for ore homogenization at DP Blast Furnaces. He is responsible for unloading and loading and adherence to iron ore storage technology.
This job suits him best, he considers working with people to be the most interesting part, and according to him, the most difficult is the lack of qualified people and technical equipment, which is no longer in the best condition.
I'll have to find the courage to leave
In addition to his work, he played a significant role in improving safe work practices and creating guidelines for the professions that are carried out at the ore and central ore transhipment site: "I did what was expected, what had to be done. So I went for it."
He wouldn't change his job, even though it brought him many unexpected moments. One of those that is not forgotten is the winter of 1986 / 1987, when such a snow calamity came that the colleague who was supposed to replace him did not even get to the ironworks, so he was at work for 36 hours straight.
Today, he is already at retirement age and, as he says, he will have to find the courage to leave.
She gives motivational books to family and friends
For many years he helped his wife in the bookstore and his hobby in reading books has remained with him to this day. "He always pleases his friends with a gift in the form of an interesting book for the holidays," his colleagues revealed.
"I've been reading since childhood, I was interested in non-fiction and then I switched to motivational books that inspire positive thinking and a positive view of the world. I also give such books to my family and friends for the holidays," said Lubomír Simcak.
From the motivational category, he recommends the book by Robin Sharma, the story of a monk who sold his Ferrari. It was released ten years ago and has since changed the lives of millions of people. It tells the story of Julian Mantle, a top lawyer whose enormous material success covered the emptiness inside.
Lubomir's hobbies include, of course, in addition to books, working at the cottage and in the garden: "We have a cottage in Vysny Klatov. I already live there all year round, take care of the garden, mow, breed rabbits, chickens... for pleasure. It's a good relaxation. But I will have to stop breeding hares. I started breeding them for the sake of my grandchildren. Just for pleasure. I can't kill them. You can't do that, kill and eat something that I take care of and that I breed myself. At the same time, I am remodeling an old house on my own, next to which we have built a temporary one on the land, which has become a cottage."
Regular blood donor
Lubomir Simcak is also a regular blood donor and a holder of the bronze Jansky plaque: "I'm a bit of a villain, I have more donations than for a bronze plaque. I started donating blood during my studies, I continued during mandatory military training, just to shirk, but I lost my card. I have a rare blood type AB, then the transfusion stations invited me for blood donations regularly. In recent years, I donate blood less, but I was also in my 60s, for a good feeling."
Photo: Jan Kisucky
