A Personal Memorial

Through the years I have had the privilege of working with some talented, good people. I have learned from all of them. These I talk of are dead. Many times I spin their names through my mind as a means to keeping their memories alive. On this morning I remember many. Jim Downey, Chief Inspector for Fabrication - J. I. Case; Sarge Salerno, Manufacturing Manager- J. I. Case; Fred Slezarenko Heat Treat foreman - J. I. Case; Dick Henningfeld Machining Foreman - J. I. Case; Kelly Swanson Tractor Repair Foreman - J. I. Case; Maury Overberg Master Scheduling Manager - J. I. Case; Ray Dulek Manufacturing Engineering Manager - J. I. Case; Bill Regan Marketing Manager - Arkla Outdoor Products; Don Miller Tool Coordinator/Press Room - J. I. Case; Dick Witt Welding Foreman - J. I. Case; Al Burdick Machining Foreman - J. I. Case; Butch Roth Chief Inspector Receiving - J. I. Case

There others whose age would be well into their 80's ir 90's if they are still alive. Cliff Quinn, Eddie Roeder, Harold Block, Jim Bliss, Frank McNamara, Bob Cantrell, Rich Heidner, Mel Both, Lenny Peterson, Kenny Matson, Larry Tilbury, and Phil Wenzel.

There there are the characters who added color to the tapestry: Blackie the Assembler, Little Nick, Al Rowley, Vic Mead, Ted Miller, Donnie the Assembler, Mary the Drill lady, Ben Davis, Dennis Schneider, Barb Pocaro, Stoney, Al Principe, Big Jim, Don the Bullard Man, Tony "Helpa Me I'ma Behind" Ammendola, Ceasar Tenuta, Henry the Set Up Man, Nick Kadamian, and a host of others whose names drift in and out of my memory.

These people make up part of the tapestry of my past. They contributed to my knowledge, counted on my leadership or helped steer my path. They are an integral part of my skill as a manager and wisdom as a human. They all made a contribution.

Breaking out the bowls

Over the weekend two utensils were brought out, cleaned and put back into use after several years of storage. One is a large stainless steel bowl that my first dog Captain ate out of. I do not know exactly when we purchased that bowl, but Captain was born in 1976 and I associate that bowl with that period of time. I would not be surprised if we bought that bowl at Fleet/Farm a wonderful farm store located near Sturtevant, WI where we lived with we got Captain. The bowl is large was used when we had our other pair of dogs, Mattie and Blondie. The bowl was put up as our last dog, Cilla, could've slept in it. Now the bowl sits on the front porch and is the water bowl for our newest additions, Molly and Lily, two Yellow Labs we picked up from Terry's mom.

The second utensil is an old, beat up aluminum measuring cup. It is the cup I used when I measured out Captain's food. It also go put up after Mattie and Blondie passed. Now I use it to measure out the food for Lily and Molly. The cup was probably purchased at some flea market in Racine. The aluminum handle is broken off and only the rivets remain. As I said, it is dented, showing years of good service. Now it shall be put into service again, and I hope it lasts for another 30 years.