WHERE WERE YOU BORN / RAISED
I was born in Great Falls, Montana. I have lived in Montana twice. Within months after I was born, we moved to the Puget Sound area of Washington where my father worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. After my first year of Jr. High, we moved back to Montana and I completed Junior High School and High School in Great Falls. Next, I attend Montana State University in Bozeman, MT.
EDUCATION
BS in Mechanical Engineering – Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 1973
Welding certification – Western Wyoming College, Rock Springs, WY 1974
MILITARY SERVICE
None. In first draft lottery of Vietnam era. Student deferment.
CAREER
Worked for Bechtel Power Corporation for 14 years in construction of fossil fuel and nuclear power plants in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. I worked at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (PG&E) for 28 years as a Maintenance Engineer. I also worked in the California Prison System as a 2nd job (weekends & vacation) for about 10 years doing maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs on Solar Centaur gas turbine generators and cogens. I’ve been in prison about 100 times at 4 different prisons, thankfully they paroled me at the end of each day.
HOW DID YOU END UP ON THE CENTRAL COAST
I was transferred to Diablo Canyon by Bechtel to Diablo Canyon on a 2 year “temporary assignment” to help with start-up of the plant. I never wanted to leave, so I took a permanent job at Diablo.
HOBBIES / INTERESTS
I like building things. I did 90% of the construction on my house and everything except the foundation of my 2-story gambrel roof workshop / barn.
I was the lead technical mentor of FIRST Robotics Team 973, associated with Atascadero High School for 12 years and continue to help the team as needed. We have been the world championship team 3 times (out of over 3,000 teams worldwide).
I enjoy metal fabrication, welding, and machining. I have a shop with almost every conceivable tool. Working in my shop is my “therapy”. I enjoy working on vintage automobiles and have a number of projects in progress or waiting.
I have traveled to 47 states and 9 countries.
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Inventions
- Provisional Patent for an automatic oiling device (Oil Levelizer ®) with adjustable level and reserve reservoir for rotating equipment in the power industry. Qualified for Safety Related Nuclear Service.
- Pendubob® alignment device for very large vertical shaft pumps and turbines which replace the time consuming and inaccurate “tight-wire” method.
- FIRST Robotics Team World Championship (3 times)
- PG&E Mielke Award for volunteerism
- National Jefferson Award for Public Service (started by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)
- Attended and presented at the 2nd Annual White House Science Fair (invited by President Obama)
FAMILY
Proud that both of my grandfathers were Montana homesteaders. Married, 3 children (1 deceased), 4 grandchildren.