Gov. Pete duPont during a visit to Millsboro’s NCR plant

Delaware Gov. Pete duPont, who passed away recently after a long life of public service and politics, is shown here during a visit to the NCR (National Cash Register) manufacturing facility in Millsboro while serving as governor from 1977 to 1985.

NCR manufactured cash registers and other financial equipment for many years at this plant along Indian River.  Thousands of Sussex County residents worked at the facility but, according to court records, the company reduced its workforce drastically between 1972 and 1976 from approximately 2,200 employees to about 450 employees.

Dealing with the negative economic impact of such events as the NCR lay-offs was one of the many challenges duPont faced when elected governor in 1976.