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THE MECHANICS
Over the years only a few mechanics have worked in our District,
and have
been involved on diesel repair, snow-cat work,
or other vehicle maintenance,
with the Radio Crews.
The names of the the mechanics are below:
Fred Nicholson (first mechanic in the area)
Art Kerr
Ron Levesque
Steve Mitzenberger
Kevin Maki
Darcey Allison
We contracted out major diesel work to Finning Cat, for the Heavy Route
Cat engines,
and to Simpson Maxwell in Prince George, for the old BMC,
and the newer Deutz.
THE ANTENNA CREW
Over the years we have had numerous Antenna Crews working in the Terrace
District.
In the 70's and 80's Dave Annan was the Supervisor.
David Robert June "Dave" Annan
b- June 18, 1936
d- May 29, 2013 in Kelowna BC, age 76 They were all stationed out of Prince George.
Some of the men I can remember are listed here,
in no particular order:
Fraser Sutherland
Don Peadon
Bill Houldsworth (see below)
Darel Jackman
Darrell Rutledge (Kokanee Beer Commercial guy)
Mark Kennedy
John Ferguson
Vern Fredericks
(Vern was actually I&R
but used as temp Antenna Man in 60's &
early 70's)
Names below submitted by:
Dennis Dessario, (antenna crew 1977-1986)
Ray Moffat
Doug Scott
Marty Peterson
Hienie Faesen
Paul Wowk
Claude Bussieres
on left, and I think? Bill Houldsworth on right
(Taken beside Brown Bear Radio Room, Tucker Snowcat, photo courtesy Brian Wolfe,
Ladysmith)
Rick Campbell
Glenn Woollett (Nickname Q-Tip)
and more to come!
It is interesting to note, most of the antenna crew members became
supervisors, later on in their careers. Guess being up that high
every day, made them want to be higher on the Corporate ladder, later on.
They were one of the few crews that spent more time on the road than us.
Their life was, and is, hotel rooms, and driving. Now in 2003 the
crew is stationed out of Vancouver only, for the whole province.
Not sure what will happen with a real disaster happens up in the north,
and the weather is bad, so no planes can land. Could take days to
restore something that used to take hours. Another Bean Counter,
cost saving plan gone haywire!
Tragic Accident Near Terrace
I also want to comment, years ago in the
70's I think it was, we lost almost (maybe all) the whole Antenna Crew,
as they were flying into Terrace Airport, on a very cloudy day, and crashed
into Herman Mountain, which at that time was a small hill at the south
end of the main runway. It was blasted and lowered, after this tragic
accident from the Coroner's Inquest request. If someone knows those
fellow's names, I would love to list them here, to honour their loss of
life, in the course of doing their job. I believe it was on a commercial
plane, not the corporate plane, which they used for many years after this.
To correct my story, Claude Bussieres sent me this
update April 13, 2008. Here is the edited version of Claude's story of
this tragic event
"The plane crash in Terrace
happened on Friday,
January 21,
1977, 6pm.
Four Antenna men were killed that night ;
Nelson "Roy"
Pugle,
b- Mar 15, 1943 in Victoria BC
d- Jan 21, 1977, age 33
son of Andrew Pugle and
Nellie Alcock
Orville
James
Breitkreutz,
b- June 13, 1945 in Vancouver BC
d- Jan 21, 1977, age 31
son of James Breitkreutz, and Elaine Greenway
Lance Allan Martin
b- July 6, 1956, in Burnaby BC
d- Jan 21, 1977, age
20
son of Allan Martin and Mary Manarin
Douglas Ranald Kilpatrick "Doug" MacGowan
b- Feb 22, 1945 Quesnel BC
d- Jan 21,1977, age 31
son of John MacGowan, and Judith Christensen
He lived in Quesnel at the time.
Claude was the In-charge on this crew
only a few months earlier,
before coming to Terrace Construction..
He was working in Smithers the day before,
and actually partied in Smithers with the crew
the night before the accident,
as they were staying in the same motel.
"They
were on their way to Rupert to drop-off their truck,
and were flying back home for the weekend
on the NT Air daily scheduled Twin Otter that night"
A total of 12 people died in
the crash.
Thanks for the update Claude,
at least now we get to honour these 4 men in a small way,
with their names listed here!
Atlin Antenna being installed 1969-1970
pics courtesy Fraser
Sutherland, Terrace BC
View of the Atlin radio site ca 1969-70
View of the Atlin Dock 1969-70
SUPPORT CLERKS
The first clerk I can remember was Judy Anweiler.
I remember Stan Miller telling me she got the highest score ever, on
a BC Tel IQ hiring exam.
Not sure what I got on it in 1969, but
I knew after that I was not number 1!
I know we had someone else earlier than her, but just can't remember
her name.
We had Pat Casey's wife, Susan, I think?,
and Sharon Landrath was a
clerk for the District Manager, as she corrected my memory.
Ginny Dean handled
our expense advances for a time as well.
Last but not least (she made me say that!) Edie Nahulak.
She did Terrace District Network Clerk duties for nearly 25 years.
The Clerks have done our time, ordered material, handled reservations,
organized helicopter pickups, handled safety lessons,
and other duties
to keep the Radio Department on the Straight and Narrow.
A fine job
by them all!
(No Edie didn't make me say that!)
I just want to add, Edie was forced out, before her 25th year,
by the heartless new Telus management team,
like 6500 others, including myself.
In her case, as in others, it is a real shame, they weren't allowed
to finish their 25th year,
without harassment, or being forced to move,
which was the case with Edie.
My hats off to all of them!
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