• Born in Danville, Illinois.

• Married for 48 years to his wife, Dianne. He has a daughter, Jacqueline Hannan, and two granddaughters, Alex and Evan.

• Enjoys fishing, golfing and tipping an occasional beer.

• Has had a number of interesting business ventures outside of line work.

• Known as a lineman who becomes a friend to everyone he meets.

• Described by Dof Toliver, his Danville Electric Operations supervisor, as a lineman with invaluable knowledge and experience. Toliver says he takes ownership and knows everyone in the rural areas he covers. He also knows where they've had trouble and where to look for trouble, and the company knows it will lose all of that knowledge when he retires.

Early Years

I started out digging ditches and reading meters before I turned to line work. I've wanted to be a troubleman since I was 26, and now I'm 70. During my first year, I was scared to death. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.

Now that I've been in the field for several decades, this job keeps me going. It keeps me mentally alert. I feel good every day, and I love what I do. This company has treated me well.

I have worked out of the Danville Operating Center my entire career and have enjoyed my work in East-Central Illinois. I ask myself every morning, “What would I do today if I didn't go to work?” Life is good. I get to work on my own. I have the opportunity to work in small towns with nice people. I am also able to see the farmers put their crops in and take them out, and I spend my days outdoors.

Day in the Life

As an electric troubleman for dozens of communities along the Indiana border, I have become a trusted friend to many customers in the 150-mile radius of Ameren Illinois' Division IV in which I serve. I work solo and stay under the radar, and for 50 years, that has suited me just fine.

Outside Business Ventures

When I worked as a night troubleman, I had the chance to do several other things during the day. For example, for a time, I owned the Lamplighter Club in Danville, where Dick and Jerry Van Dyke got their start. I booked acts like Chubby Checker and Tommy James & the Shondells. I've made a few bucks in my life, and I've lost a few. Life was good in those days.

Memorable Storm

I'll never forget my first storm that I worked on as an apprentice. Back in 1964 or 1965, I was making about $4 an hour, and I was looking forward to a little overtime pay. I worked with an old guy, Dorman Meade, who had a temper about as big as a truck, but he had a heart that was bigger than that. We called him “Stormin' Dorman.”

We had customers out of power for about three weeks and about 15 steel transmission structures down. It was a domino effect. At Route 49 and 150 west of Danville, the wind was so strong it picked up a boxcar off the tracks. We could hardly get the truck doors open. But we worked around the clock for about three weeks. That's about the toughest I've ever worked.

Safety Lesson

The biggest changes I've seen in five decades is the emphasis on safety and the equipment that linemen use. When I started, we climbed poles every day. We didn't have bucket trucks. Throughout the years, however, I worked with lots of old linemen, and I survived it all. Not all linemen are as fortunate, however. In fact, one of the buddies on my crew was electrocuted long ago.

Future Plans

Everybody has treated me well. I had some opportunities, but I had no ambition to go into management. I think I made the right decision. I think I'll stay at least another year and see what happens. If anybody has anymore fun in life than I've had, I'd like to meet them and see how they did it.

Transmission & Distribution World is looking for utility professionals who have made a valuable contribution to the industry. If you would like to nominate someone for a future profile, please e-mail Amy Fischbach at afischbach@tdworld.com with the person's contact information and a brief description about what makes him or her stand apart from the rest of the field crew.