It is hard to keep your head when everyone else is losing theirs. Some are better at keeping their wits about them than others. When I headed south to cover the Gulf rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, I saw plenty of chaos and plenty of people losing their heads. The devastation was so immense and the needs so great that few could cope. I saw tempers flare, but mostly I ran into dazed individuals looking lost, not knowing where to turn. Not so with our linemen.

Every lineman I talked with had worked storms before. They were prepared. And not just with the proper line tools and hardware. They were ready emotionally and physically. This is what linemen live for: to provide sanity in insane times. No one is more loved than that lineman who, having just worked a 14-hour day, stops to replace a fuse to get power to that last cul-de-sac. The outpouring of love from ordinary people who see some semblance of order come back to their lives is so genuine, whether tears are shed, hugs are shared or meals are cooked. Those affected are so appreciative of seeing progress made and knowing that someone cares. Of course, linemen don't handle appreciation well. It makes them squeamish. But they suffer through, saying, “It was nothing” or “That's what we're here for.”

The editors of Transmission & Distribution World have put together this special section as a tribute to our linemen. We interviewed linemen from around the country, gathering their stories about life on and off the line, how they got into the business, the individuals who most impacted their careers, how line work first got under their skin and how it ultimately defines them.

Once a Lineman,, Always a Lineman

We've all heard the phrase: “Once a lineman, always a lineman.” When covering Katrina, I kept running into linemen who legitimately tried to retire, but they just couldn't handle it. One lineman told me that he had become so irritable his wife kicked him out of the house. Another mentioned that after a year or so of fishing and hunting, he just didn't feel valuable anymore. He had to go back and put on the belt, even if less frequently.

If you ever doubted it, work any aspect of a storm, and you will come back with the knowledge that our linemen truly are the heart and soul of our utilities. During major storms, an incredible beehive of activity centers around the delivering of materials and equipment to the front line, so line workers can restore power as quickly and safely as possible. I visited the Entergy command center when I was in Jackson, Mississippi. George Bartlett was directing efforts there and made a statement that had a lasting impression on me. He said, “Rick, I am just sitting in this room staring at four walls. The real work is out there.”

A Lineman and His Work

Linemen don't want to be messed with when they are on a mission. I came upon a line crew picking up a transformer at a local headquarters to restore power to a previously flooded street in Covington, Louisiana. I asked one of the linemen how the restoration was going and he said, “I really don't have time to mess with you. I've got a transformer to hang.” Well put. He had his priorities in order.

When battling storms, every experience is magnified. Linemen learn exponentially more about their professions, their work practices and even themselves when working a major storm. Linemen will tell you that, due to the increased concentration and heightened awareness required to work storms, crews are less likely to be injured. Experiences gained working Katrina and other storms have deeply affected the way linemen approach their work and their fellow linemen. Friendships forged on the battlefield are friendships that will be carried to the grave.

I feel honored to have been invited into the linemen's world to see firsthand how they handle the pressures of line work. And they love the work. As any veteran line worker will tell you, “If you are wired for this, it is the best job on earth.”

Linemen, at their core, are fighters. I don't think they care whether they win, or even who they are competing against, but they are fighters. They fight the cold, the heat, the bugs, the living conditions, the exhaustion and the challenges. Linemen are wired to endure. Although linemen don't really like the limelight, we found a few who agreed to share their experiences because of the passion they have for their profession.