Category: The Construction Biz

Amazing Things, My Friends, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Friend And Mentor Dave

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I first got to know Dave in 1972. He was a successful underground utility contractor and very well respected in the business. His office was located in Lubbock. Dave was my mentor, someone I could learn from. I figured if I watch him and handle my business like he did, I surely be successful. My first subcontract was working for him installing water lines in Burnet, Texas. It was actually more complicated than that. I was a sub to another sub that subcontracted to Dave’s company. That happens in our business a lot. Ok if you aren’t too confused I’ll … Continue reading My Friend And Mentor Dave

The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

From Smudge Pots to Blinking Barricade Warning Lights

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We were talking about smudge pots a while back. It got me to thinking about these old things and how when I was a kid in the 50s and 60s I would go with my dad out on jobs, many times at night. I would go stand next to one of the diesel burning things on a cold night, to stay warm. In typical kid fashion I wasn’t afraid of getting dirty, so the black smoke and soot would be all over me, but it made me feel like a “working man”. This is my recollection of how we started … Continue reading From Smudge Pots to Blinking Barricade Warning Lights

Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Lost Fuel Truck

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We were down in Houston working many years ago. I had a cousin, Butch Martin working with us. He had an old friend from Austin that was needing a job, so we found a place to fit Wilber in. He was an equipment operator and he also served as our fuel truck driver, which was just a part time gig. Butch and Wilber each had a bit of a drinking problem, and always found a joint to call home everywhere they went. One Monday morning when we showed up for work and Wilber was missing in action. We didn’t think … Continue reading The Lost Fuel Truck

Aging, Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Martin’s, Father and Son Roadhands

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Uncle Bob Martin worked for me a couple of times in the 70s. He was slow and steady but was accomplishing something with every motion. He was my maternal grandmother, Nancy’s brother. Uncle Bob’s oldest son Butch Martin worked for me several times. We was opposite of his Dad. He was fast and all over everything, but man could he move dirt. You just always knew it wouldn’t last long, before he’d twist off and not show up. Each time I’d swear that was the last. But he had an uncanny way of arriving when you most needed someone in … Continue reading The Martin’s, Father and Son Roadhands

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Meeting New People, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Mrs. Lily Mae Little

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Back in 76 we were needing something to do. (That is what we say in the construction business when our inventory of work has been depleted) An acquaintance of ours, a competitor, had landed a big project up in North Texas, in the Possum Kingdom Area. It was more work than his crews could adequately handle, so we contracted for part of the project. We would be laying a 10 mile long segment of 24” water line. I was only 24 years old at the time. Madeline, our not yet 2 year old son Matthew and I relocated to that … Continue reading Mrs. Lily Mae Little

Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction BizLeave a comment

He Shouldn’t Have Been Dragging His Feet To Give Us The Thumbs Up

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Back in the mid 1990s we were doing a lot of work on new apartments. There was one big builder that we had done several projects with. He would only give us the underground pipe work, allowing another contractor to do the excavation and other site work. He was always about to pull his hair out each time using Brand X, but really enjoyed the fishing trips they would take him on. The vacant property at the old Texas State Hospital at 38th between Lamar and Guadalupe was made available for development so this developer had a deal to put … Continue reading He Shouldn’t Have Been Dragging His Feet To Give Us The Thumbs Up

Construction, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Then & Now

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I graduated from high school in May 1970. By the fall of 70 I went to work in the underground utility industry. I believe I was earning around $3.00 per hour. Considering the minimum wage back then was$1.60, I was doing pretty well. A top operator was paid $3.75 per hour. By late spring of 1972, I had learned enough about the business, plus what I had picked up being around trucks and machinery my whole life, I subcontracted my first water line installation project in Burnet, Texas. I had a crew of 4 or 5 people including myself. I … Continue reading Then & Now

Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, On The Job, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Death By Seatbelt

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Once when we were doing a project in Dallas, my Suburban was having mechanical problems so I took it to the shop. They gave me a rental car. This was in the early 90s. Kenny was up helping me on that project so we would go eat before we would go to our apartment each evening. This night we determined where to go eat on our way home, but then I changed my mind. He was following me when we stop at a red light. I just opened the drivers door and stuck my head out to tell him to … Continue reading Death By Seatbelt

Amazing Things, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

As I Sit Here Thinking About Coincidences

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My many stories of my friend Dink, conjures up yet another story. As I’ve said before, I many times needed to check in on Dink because we had a business deal that wasn’t working out as planned. Since I never knew where he was, there was a network of his friends that I talked to and would report Dink sightings. I had heard that he may be heading to Austin soon, after a jaunt in Alaska or some other far away place. I knew he always stayed at the Colonial Inn in far south Austin when he was in town. … Continue reading As I Sit Here Thinking About Coincidences

Crazy Times, My Friends, The Construction BizLeave a comment

Dink And The Big Wastewater Line Break

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One day when Dink and I had our “partnership” going, he drilled through a 24″ wastewater line that we were relocating over at 5th and West Lynn St. for the new Mopac Highway that was being built. This was in the early 70s. Rather than tell anyone about breaking the line he put a big piece of tin over it, then parked a machine over the top. The plan was to return in the middle of the night when everyone went to sleep and put a “fix” on it when the flows were low. He enlisted me to meet him … Continue reading Dink And The Big Wastewater Line Break