I put $15 into a gold card at classmates.com and hooked up with an old HS friend and neighbor from the 1960's. We sat together on the school bus every morning me doing history home work as he did his latin translation. We played football and he ran track. I tried track but never got the running bug he did. So I need to write up my history.
I left NY for Arizona after completing 2 years at what was Auburn Community College. I completed my Civil Engineering Degree at the University of Arizona in September of 1969. I needed a summer session to finish up. I met my wife Susan ( Tucson Girl) in June while hanging out at the student union pool waiting for summer school to start. LOS (love at first sight) took over and we were married January 29, 1970
In October 1969 I started a 32 year career with the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) in Helena Montana. This short assignment ended in January and I was transferred to South Carolina. I stopped in Tucson and got married and then got drafted into the US Army May 5,1970. Funny thing I came home to NY for the draft and they sent me to boot camp back in Columbia SC Fort Jackson.
No Vietnam for me. My civil engineering degree landed me in Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas in an office of mostly civilian engineers. I always say I was only in the real Army for 8 weeks. Susan went to summer school at the U of A and also attended the U of Little Rock and managed to complete her degree by the time I got my early out release from the Army December 17, 1971.
I got back to the BPR which became the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with the creation of the US Department Of Transportation. February 1972 I was working on a bridge construction project for the Arkansas Highway Department in Pine Bluff. This was part of my 3 year training program.
In November 1972 we made the first move to Washington DC for a 2 month class room training assignment. February 1973 found us in Olympia Washington this time a bridge design training assignment with the Washington DOT.
February 1974 and we are in Arlington VA. My training program is completed and I have my first permanent assignment in the Demonstration Projects Program. It was technology transfer work. We transftred research results to practical application. I keep involved in technology transfer and promoted many ideas during my career. This was a great start.
Susan worked a couple of years for FHWA but became a full time mom July 19, 1975. Kimberly Elise Fraher .
1976 - Fort Worth Texas my first assignment in this Regional Office
1978 - August 16, 1978 Karen Elizabeth Fraher I did an interesting moonlight job—I sold beer in the stands of the Texas Rangers MLB team for 2 summers. That was the last time I wore size 32 pants.
1980 - 1986 Yardley PA working as Division Bridge Engineer FHWA in Trenton NJ
1984 Very interesting temporary assignment to Saudi Arabia
1986-1999 back in Fort Worth Texas FHWA Regional Office covering Arkansas Louisiana Texas Oklahoma and New Mexico. I also traveled to many other States providing training in highway drainage, bridge scour , bridge safety inspection and bridge management systems (computer stuff) . These trips helped me get to cities where my sibs scattered and up home to see the folks and brother Tom many times. Tom is the only one of the 8 of us to settle in CNY Skaneateles. They have a Camp on the canal near Mudd Lock.
1999 Atlanta Georgia for the National Resource Center created as part of a major reorganization of the FHWA. This brought me back to technology transfer fulltime as a Team Leader with an office with a door and windows and a great group of younger engineers promoting new technology for pavements hydraulics bridge design foundations and of course my specialty Bridge Management Systems.
2003 January 3 about a week after my 55th bday I retired from my first career and Started working as a self employed consultant for Bridge Management Systems implementation. In August the Atlanta area house was sold the moving van brought us to back to Texas near Austin where both Girls live and work. Both are University of Texas Grads.
Kim is married to Jamie Kropka. She is a Chemical engineer for Freescale ( formerly Motorola) She makes computer chips. Jamie is also a chemical engineer in grad school at the University of Texas.
Karen is a Critical Care Registered Nurse.
All three are super people.
Well I work when I have work and there is plenty right now. I have started may hobbies over the years and still get into them when I can. I have been building a shop and office and hope to get moved in in a few more months. Just need to complete the elictrical plumming insulation and sheetrock (ONLY!!!!) It is weather tight and painted on the outside.
Hey Ron
I did try some running finaly in the 80's ran one 10K and dropped back to hiking and walking Golf for 20 years and quit that. I down Hill Ski when I can affford it and the kids have time to go with me. Susan cooks and gets to play mom when we go. Just had a great week in Lake Tahoe.
I had a interior miniscus tear scrapped out last April but recovered pretty good. No more swelling I am walkin hiking skiing and in fair shape. My Son in law is a real runner and Kim is into it now. Jamie did the Boston last year but got sick he did finish intime to get his medal.
Austin is the most running place I have ever been. Marathon half marathon 10 k 5 k fun runs you name it they run it ( By the thousands) Not me I am saving my knees for the snow and getting out of bed in the morning. Lady TRI thing Karen did that one.
Good hearing from you.
Mike
Ron replied today with interesting catch-up letter about his past 40 years. I know my next trip to Montezuma NY will include a hike over the hills to se Ron.
