Old Mentors and Old Firms

[JAE]

Just curious - I started out my structural career in south Texas in 1982 with a firm that had been founded in 1909. The library there had lots of old engineering text books and other references - including a foundations book autographed by Terzoghi (famous geotechnical guy in the US).

The engineer's that I worked under all started their careers in engineering in the years 1927, 1942, 1946, 1946 and 1960-something (if I remember correctly).

I would think that there are fairly "ancient" firms on the east coast of the US, and in many countries in Europe. Got any other examples of old mentors or old firms?

 

[JAE]

You haven’t lived in the engineering world until you have sweated bullets at 2:30 am on a cold winter’s night.

That statement should be carved in cyber-granite on this website.

 

[rhodie]

The company I am employed for is family owned.

The owner of the company is an active man. Hardly elderly, but well along in years. He is barrel chested and barks orders like a Drill Instructor. He's a millionaire $ several times over.

My first day on the job there was a sewer blockage in the main line. Seeking to assert myself as a leader, I began "co-ordinating" the effort to get a snake, pop the manhole covers, run the lines, etc, etc, etc...

The owner of the company drove up in his well appointed Mercedes, sporting his custom-cut black slacks, and wearing the only real Rolex watch I have ever seen in my life.

He steps out, pushes a maintenance man aside, and grabs hold of the "business end" of the sewer snake and gets intimate with all the crap, piss, and toilet paper being spun around the opening.

His point wasn't to impress anyone... his goal was to unblock the sewer.

I was proven than day just what kind of company I work for, and what kind of man whose shoes I was to fill.

That's one example among many I could give you about this man, but the first and most poignant for me in changing the type of employee, and manager, I am and will be.

 

[zeitghost]

I worked for Minesota Mining & Manufacturing, or 3M as it's more widely known.

Goes back to a carborundum mine in 1902(ish)...