Engineers News: July 2008
Retiree picnic 2008!
In honor of the good 'ole times and the ones yet to be had
Just as retirees and their families recall stories from the field, they are now recalling stories from the annual Retiree Picnic at Rancho Murieta. This year’s event, held June 7, included the usual festivities: pit-roasted barbecue and chicken, bingo games, Johnny Cash music, new equipment displays and new SELEC items and the 50-year awards ceremony followed by the raffling of the meat.
There’s no question the folks in attendance at this year’s picnic had their stories, including 53-year member Charlie Crane, who trained one of the first female operators in the trade in 1977. Then there’s Harold Puckeylow, who arrived in class as usual, in his Cesna 182 plane, which offered unmatched views of the Ranch and the picnic. Some friends arrived together, such as neighbors and longtime working partners Orin Stuart and Gerald Armstrong. Others met at the picnic and hit it off right away, such as Gerry Swan, 66-year member Alex Radke and 35-year member Chuck Ramires.
Retirees and their families arrived in all manner of vehicles, including mobile homes, trailers, planes, golf carts and cars: Ninety-four-year member Jim Grant drove all the way from Cloverdale in an RV with his grandson, Matt, his wife, June and their dog, Foxy, in tow.
Beyond good lunch, good music, good memories and a good reason to gather – honoring members with 50 years – the annual Retiree Picnic is also a meeting of young and old, such as 35-year member Garrey Moser and his granddaughter, Danielle Robinson, or the generations of 50-year member Jack Barnard, his son, 28-year member Mel, and his brother-in-law, 34-year member Norman Martinez.
The view from Puckeylow’s plane says it all – gathered underneath that famous red-and-green-top tent and meandering among the booths and the construction equipment – this year’s retirees, their families and friends conversed, ate and drank in honor of the good ‘ole times and the ones yet to be had.
