The following have written about their careers:
People A-B:
[18] Dennis Abbott, John Alton, Don Arnold, Alden Allen, Warren Becker,
Keith Behnke, Scott Benjamin, Lowell A. Benson, John 'Jack' Blackmer,
Don Blattie, Manny Block, Larry Bolton, Jim Bougie, Bob Bro, Mike Bukovich,
Tom Burns, Warren Burrell, and Bill Butler.
People C-F:
[15] Greg Casey, Bob Chappelear, Larry Debelak, Dennis Christ, David
E. Cross, Michael Doll, C.P. 'Chuck' Covington, Keith Davis, Jim Donaldson,
Hank Dotzler, Dave Duncan, Allan Edwards, Dr. John Esch, George Fedor,
and Lyle Franklin.
People G-H:
[18] Bill Geiger, Millie Gignac, Jay Gildemeister, Kevin R. Giles, Tom
Goulding, Lee Granberg, Paul Gregory, Thomas Grendzinski, Bruce Grewenow,
Burton Gunderson, Nancy Gunther, Glen Hambleton, Bob 'RC' Hanson,
John Hartmann, Al Heiden, Ralph Hileman, Kevin Hoffman, and Jim Hyslop.
People I-L:
[13] Ron Irwin, Clint Jurgens, Bill Kenny, Dick Kistler, Steve Kloner,
Bruce Klugherz, Dave Kolling, Tom Kratz, Dick Kuhns, Archie Lahti, Bob
Langer, Ernie Lantto, and Don Lovely.
People M-O:
[17] Don Mager, Ben Manning, Gene McCarthy, Ed Michaud, Don Moe, Joyce
Mortison, Lyle Mozak, Kieth Myhre, Pat [nee Bailey] Myhre, Bob Myller,
Mert Nellis, Ed Nelson, William 'Curt' Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Don Neumann,
Richard 'Ole' Olson, and Jim Overocker.
People P-S:
[29] Bob Pagac, Larye Parkins, Dr. Peter Patton, Richard Petschauer,
Jane Pesja, Phil Phipps, David Quiggle, Gerald Pickering, Richard Prokop,
Jim Rapinac, Jerry Raveling, Al Reiter, O. Wynn Roberts, Dick Roessler,
Tom Rougier, Duane Sandstrom, Vernon Sandusky, Norb Santoski, Jack Sater,
Bob Scholz, Rollie Schwitters, Tom Sinkula, Tom Soller, John Spearing,
Woody Spitzmueller, Jim Stephenson, Bernie 'Mike' Svendsen, Gary Sloan,
and Larry Schmidt.
People T-Z: [12]
Harvey Taipale, Ed Tilford, Joel Tofteland, Roy Valentini, Sam Walzer,
Don Weidenbach, Eldon Weinhold, John Westergren, Tom Widenkopf, Monte
Widdoss, Mike Wold, and Dr. Steve Yahr
Oral Interviews:
[2] Jim 'Rapp' Rapinac, Fred Hargesheimer, Marc Shoquist, ... We have
more to be transcribed!
They Flew: [9] Tom Bayless, Lowell Benson,
Larry Debelak, Quent Fabro, Tom Kratz, Oscar Lundbeck, Ned Hunter, David
Noyes, and Jim Rapinac
Deceased: [21] Rolland
Arndt, Jim Bergum, Bob Blixt, Pat Casey, Dr. George Champine, Arnie
Cohen, Fred Hargesheimer, Grover Higgenbothem, Jack Hill, Charles 'Chuck'
Homan, Dick Huberty, Earl C. Joseph Sr., Bill Keye, John Markfelder,
Bob McDonald, Jack Reid, Dr. Sid Rubens, Erwin Tomash, Robert 'Bob'
Wesslund, Frank Kucera, and Don Ream.
Anecdotes:
[7] John Alton, Lowell Benson, John Markfelder, Dick 'Ole' Olson, Jeff
Parker, Gerry Pickering, and Jim Rapinac. {These are now linked under
the main Legacy tab.}
4. Experiences on September 11, 2001
{Editor's Note: Norm Mineta was the Secretary of Transportation who
gave the FAA order to bring all airliners down after the 9/11/2001 attack
on the United States of America. Some of us who've met him know two
other things about Norm: 1) He was a former California representative
then an LMCO employee before becoming Secretary of Transportation and
2) He was an innocent resident of an internment camp after the 12/7/41
attack on the US. See Tom Brokow's "The Greatest Generation"
book. [lab]}
4.1. Mike Doll
Mike's career summary is partly about 9/11 - see People Careers
C-F page.
4.2. Eric Taipale
Eric was in his New York apartment from where he could see the Twin
Towers get hit. His dad, Harvey Taipale was in DC, near the Pentagon
when it was hit. Since Harvey did not have a car, he found Joel Melohn
who had a rental car. They drove non-stop back to MN. They saw a commotion
in Pennsylvania near where the plane went down. The only direct impact
on Harvey and Joel, was that Joel got a speeding ticket when coming
through Wisconsin.
4.3. Chuck Halls
Chuck got grounded in Pittsburgh, on the way home. There were no
hotels nor rental cars. He took a taxi [about $200] to get to Indiana
where he could get a hotel/car.
4.4 Paul Roselle
The following is what Les Bruchal and I experienced while traveling
on September 11, 2001:
Les and I were traveling to visit a supplier in New York.
While en-route and nearing our destination during the morning of 9/11/01,
our pilot came on the intercom system and announce that he had good
news and bad news and which would we like to hear first. The pilot announced
that the entire eastern seaboard's airspace had been shut down and that
we were going to be put into a holding pattern while trying to get authorization
to return to another airport to land, but we weren't to worry because
we had enough fuel to be in a holding pattern for quite a while. We
got to decide which was the good news and what was the bad news. I commented
to the person seated next to me that it was odd that the eastern seaboard's
airspace was shut down because the weather was good and that we build
a lot of the air traffic control equipment and the pilot's statement
didn't make sense.
Within a short period of time the pilot came back on the
intercom to announce that we'd been denied access to return to Detroit
[NWA'S closest hub.] Moments later the pilot announced that "we'd been
ordered out of the sky" and we were attempting to land in Montreal.
At this time everyone was starting to shout out information on what
was happening in the world outside the plane in which we were locked.
People were shouting out that a plane had crashed into the World Trade
Center - the Twin Towers. About this time everyone on the plane was
trying to use the credit card phones on the plane [remember when the
phones were still on the planes?] to contact people on the ground to
see what was going on and get more information. The pilot indicated
that we'd been granted authorization to land in Montreal. The only problem
was that our original flight plan did not authorize us to leave US airspace
and travel into Canadian airspace and it would take us quite a while
to clear Security and get into Customs.
We landed in Montreal but we couldn't pull up to a gate
so we taxied near a gate and were allowed to crack the door to get some
fresh air into the aircraft because we were going to be there for a
long time. We were sitting in First Class due to our frequent flyer
status so we were talking to the stewardesses and then the pilot opened
the cockpit door and turned on the on-board AM radio. We listened in
disbelief and lived what was going on in the nation that day. People
were trying the credit card phones trying to contact family and friend
to let them know they were okay but the circuits were overloaded and
many calls would not go through. We listened in horror to the AM radio
and people shouting out what information they were getting on their
cellular phone [people who had them because they were not as popular
then as they are now-a-days.]
Another plane hit the World Trade Center, another plane
hit the Pentagon, speculation was running rampant on the a plane was
on the way to the White House. Little did we know what was about to
transpire en-route to the plane in Pennsylvania. Eventually we were
able to get through to work on the credit card telephone to let them
know we were okay and could we get messages to our families that we
were okay. We spoke with Terry Houle and Rene Yates who indicated that
we were the last two LMCO people they were trying to locate on that
day. I think both Les and I would really like to thank everyone again
who was concerned about our safety and who were concerned about our
families back home. I don't think either of us can say enough about
the people in our groups who were concerned about us.
Eventually after many hours on the ground in Montreal we
allowed to approach the gate but had to wait for the authorities to
"greet our plane and allow us to disembark". The Royal Canadian Mounted
Police greeted our plane in urban combat fatigues with full riot gear
and weapons drawn. Everyone had to exit the plane and hand their carry
on luggage and brief cases to the Mounties who hand searched the contents
and then we were all asked to step forward and we were physically searched.
When we were finished with the search we were handed our bags and allowed
to proceed through Customs. We first had to clear Canadian customs and
then the US Customs. Luckily, I had my Passport in my briefcase; for
some reason I'd put it in there the day before the trip because I thought
it would come in handy if I ever needed it. Little did I know how much
time it would save me that day and give proof of my US Citizenship.
Les and I cleared Customs, and the NWA agents at the gate
where we'd arrived indicated they were not going to be giving vouchers
for hotels - yet. Being seasoned corporate travelers we headed to the
NWA counter at the main terminal. By the time we got into the main terminal
the airlines were giving out vouchers and we had to get a ride to the
hotel. At this time we knew the FAA had shut down the entire airspace
in the US and were not sure how long it was going to take to return
to the states and whether or not we'd get to New York to the supplier
we were suppose to visit. The ride to the hotel was memorable: because
of the vouchers we got from the airline the cabs outside were fighting
over everyone's business. The cab driver we got was arguing with the
other drivers telling them they were stealing from him and taking money
from his family. Les and I were not sure what was going to transpire
between the drivers. Finally, our driver got us out of the Montreal
Airport and began heading to the hotel. The freeway were jammed up due
to traffic and the cab driver was speeding along side the traffic on
the shoulder of the roadway over the ribbed surfaces indicating your
were going off of the freeway onto the median. Les and I thought the
cab driver was preparing for the Montreal Grand Prix. After a very interesting
and hair raising experience with the cab ride we got to the hotel.
Approximately eight hours from the start of the terrorist
attacks, we were able to see the actual television coverage when we
got to the hotel. It was hard to comprehend what we were watching on
television. Les and I sat in disbelief at the footage being shown on
the televisions. We were sitting outside at the hotel near the airport
in Montreal and it seemed really strange to not see any planes in the
air or landing or taking off. It was really strange and it didn't seem
right what was going on with no planes being in the air or allowed to
fly at all. Les and I were speaking to other people who were stranded
in Montreal like we were. People were trying to get rentals and drive
across the border to get back into the US. Everyone was wondering how
we were going to get home. We saw on the news that the lines trying
to get across the border were miles long and we found out later that
no one was getting across the border. We sat it out in the hotel speaking
to work and family while we waited out the outcome of how we were going
to get back to the US. We waited three days until the airspace was opened
up in North America by the FAA. We caught one of the first flights out
of Montreal back into the US. We had to get to the airport several hours
in advance of the flight. The airport official would not tell us what
time the plane was going to take off and what we were going to have
to go through to be allowed to leave Montreal. Basically we had to go
back through an extensive screening process. Once through security check
we were transferred to a large holding area in the airport and then
escorted by security to the gate to board the plane to return to MSP.
We never got to New York to visit the supplier we were suppose to visit.
Several months later on another trip I landed in Newark at nighttime,
and they had ground zero lit up with the two spot lights shining up
into the sky which highlighting where the WTC Twin Towers had been.
Everyone was really quiet when we landed because we had a very good
view along the river as we landed. I've though about what transpired
that day and what I'd seen out the window that evening. I'll remember
9/11/01 for as long as I am alive. I think there are many other people
through out the world who think about what happened on this day as well.
I've also driven past the monument for the flight in Pennsylvania near
one of our major subcontractor in Johnstown, PA as have other people
in our work group. We've all looked at the photo's people have brought
back from the crash site and thought about what happened to the people
on this flight. I've read about the other accounts of what happened
on this day while we were in the air en-route to New York to visit our
supplier. My perspective is different because while the events transpired
we were seated in the plane and couldn't get off.
4.5 Thomas G. Reischel
Sr. Staff Analyst, Sourcing Administration of Lockheed Martin MS2
{Editor’s note: Added to the web site on 8/21/2011}
I am forevermore impacted by the events that occurred on 9/11/2001.
First of all 9/11 is my birthday. Since that day, my birthday has never
been the same. Also, whenever I present my driver’s license or
fill out a form requiring that date, I always get a comment. So I take,
and I took, this event personally. However, beyond that, I was in New
Jersey that day traveling on company assignment. Lockheed Martin had
just put Eagan under the common purchasing group located in Moorestown,
New Jersey called the Northern Material Acquisition Center (NMAC). They
were assigned to buy all components and commercial parts for all of
MS2. At that time, MS2 consisted of 9 separate sites. However, we were
not on a common purchasing system yet, so the plan was that Eagan’s
requisitions would be transferred to Moorestown, and their Buyers would
place the Purchase Order (PO) on our P1100 System. So, I was sent to
Moorestown to train their Buyers how to input POs on P1100. Since this
event was larger than me personally, I was there on my birthday along
with Scott McLagan to do 2 days of training. We arrived there on Monday
evening 9/10.
On the morning of 9/11, I was in a conference room with about 20
buyers. We had a TV set to use for an Audio-Visio presentation as part
of the training. I believe it was an overview of the Eagan products
and Programs to orient the Buyers on the things they would be buying.
At the time the 1st plane hit the World Trade Center, I was
making a presentation using an overhead projector, and using a laser
pointer to highlight my presentation when the door slammed open and
I was rudely interrupted by a person who grabbed the TV set. I started
to protest – “Hey Buddy, I’m giving a presentation
here and need that!” He just blurted: “A plane just flew
into the World trade center”. As I just stood there with a dumbfound “What!”
on my lips, the room emptied along with the TV set.
Out in the main office, the TV had no rabbit ears, so no one could
get a picture. Finally, a local Engineer had a spool of copper wire
in his desk. Don’t all Engineers have that? He hooked the wire
up to the back of the TV and strung the wire out an open window creating
AN ANTENNA. None of us ‘Sourcing’ people would have thought
of that. The TV finally focused in just in time for us to watch the
second plane hit the tower. When the first plane hit, we thought it
was some sort of major tragic accident. After, the second plane, there
was no doubt that it was a terrorist attack. This was New Jersey. Some
of the people in that office had family and friends IN THE TOWERS. So
immediately everyone got on the phone. There was shock, horror, and
despair everywhere you looked. Scott and I called home and in to work
to let everyone know where we were and that we were OK. We heard that
Les Bruchal and Paul Roselle were diverted into Canada. Lockheed was
trying to get a hold of everyone on travel status. Since Jersey is just
across the river from New York, the next thing that happened was everyone
piled into their cars and drove over to a nearby park where the New
York skyline could be seen. From there we could see the Statue of Liberty,
and beyond it the smoking towers. There were tears, cursing and “OH
my Gods” from everyone present.
The next thing to happen was that several people headed for New York
only to be turned back because the bridges and tunnels into NYC were
shut down. People were milling around in shock and didn’t know
what to do. Management decided to get people back into the class room
since there was no communication or transportation possible, so it might
help them to settle down and get their minds off the tragedy for a while.
So we got everyone we could find back into the classroom, but after
a while it was obvious that nobody, including me, could focus on anything
else, so we broke up the training and cancelled the sessions for a future
date. Scott and I went back to our rooms and tried to book a flight
out only to find out that all flights had been grounded. So we watched
CNN the rest of the day.
On Wednesday the planes were still not flying. We went into the office
and hung around with the locals. We heard all kinds to tragic stories.
Several people were still trying to find their friends or relatives.
Many were angry, but couldn’t do anything about it. People wanted
to go in to New York, but still couldn’t. I told Scott that if
the planes weren’t flying Thursday morning, be ready to check
out and drive home. So, on Thursday, we took off. We didn’t call
Avis, we just got in the rental car and started driving. We figured
we would drop the car off in Minneapolis. That drive took us 22 hours
straight through. I drove the whole way. Air traffic was still grounded,
so the roads were bumper to bumper and slow moving. Never saw so many
semi trucks on the road. Everyone was driving. We got into Minnesota
at 5 AM, having left New Jersey at 7AM the previous day. I dropped off
Scott, took the rental car home, kissed and hugged my wife, then went
over to my bed and passed out.
The next morning was Friday. After a couple of hours sleep, I dropped
off the rental car. Avis didn’t even ask, just processed the bill.
It must have been an off Friday, because, in any case, I didn’t
go in to work. My wife told me that they were holding a special Mass
down at the Cathedral of St. Paul for the victims of the terrorist attacks
and that the Archbishop was presiding. You bet we went! He gave an eloquent
sermon, but what I remember the most was when we said the Our Father.
When we got to the part “AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESSPASS AGAINST
US”, there were tears streaming down my face and I choked on the
words. Respectfully submitted, Tom.
5. Diversity
When some people talk of Diversity, they may mention the ‘Glass
Ceiling’ referring to women who were the first to achieve something
in the ‘man’ dominated computer business community. Others
relate to the Civil Rights movement of the 60's, usually mentioning
Rosa Parks as having the nerve to 'not step-to-the-rear of the bus’.
Some may remember the National Guard being called out to quell riots
in the South. I don’t recall any such demonstrations at UNIVAC
but do remember that our employees had many, many national origins.
Did Yuichi Ito and others sense any discrimination because of their
Asian ancestry? Did some employees sense discrimination because of their
African ancestry? Did those of Hispanic ancestry sense discrimination?
Did Dr. Sid Rubens or Abe Franck or others sense discrimination
because of their religion? For the most part, I think that we [ERA/UNIVAC/Sperry/UNISYS]
were professionals focused on solving customer problems by working competently
at our jobs. Refer to Millie Gignac’s mini-bio on this web site,
then contribute your career summary or add to the few short stories
hereunder. [lab]
5.1 By Marc Shoquist:
To my [Marc Shoquist] knowledge, Ray Pleasant was one of the first
Afro American engineers RRU hired. He was very personable guy, a smart
politician and community leader. Ray was in the State Legislature for
many years representing the Bloomington district. He lived near the
Normandale College, I can remember him regularly supporting a charity
golf event at a local private country club.
Ray worked for me for about two years in the development group about
1956-58. He was hired and assigned to me by my boss, Leon Sabine, an
Antenna Coupler manager when I joined the group in 1953. Leon left the
group in 1958 to head up a standards group and Ray joined him. I am
sure Paul Richardson remembers him well as they were both in my engineering
group during the late 50’s.
The Coupler group held an annual Christmas dinner party, Ray hosted
one of them at his home and he attended all others. These parties continued
well into the 80's long after the Coupler had been transferred to Sperry
Marine in 1970. The guest list was well over 60 couples and most of
them attended. It was an annual tradition.
5.2 By Lowell Benson:
From 1963 to 1966, I worked as a computer operator in the Plant 1
Military Computer Center. Our supervisor was Cliff Cunningham, an excellent
noon-time bridge player who would use psyche bids on occasion - like
opening with only 8 points. Cliff also did some of the center's support
software development. Later he worked at Valencia on the S-3 program,
last I knew was living in Nevada. One St. Patrick's day Cliff came into
the office wearing a bright green neck tie. The departmental secretary
said to him: "Cliff, I didn't know that you were Irish" to which he
replied: "Of course, haven't you ever heard of the 'Black Irish'." Cliff
told us about this while laughing that she probably had to have it explained
to her. Cliff was a nice guy and a competent programmer!
Somewhat anecdotal was in the 70's when the marketing organization
brought in Gene Proctor, a new salesperson of Afro-American heritage.
When Gene transferred into St. Paul, he showed an immediate sense of
humor when told a group meeting that he was be happy to work on Army,
Navy, or Air Force programs but there were four things that he wouldn't
do: "1) buy a home in Coon Rapids, 2) work on 'spook' programs, 3) work
on 'black' programs and 4) wouldn't sell black boxes." We all laughed
and treated and worked with him as we did with all other marketing persons.
5.3 By Willis Unke:
Do any of you know if the VIP Club or any other Univac organization
has done anything on "Univac & the Civil Rights Movement of the
60s'"? Has anybody written anything on this subject?
About 1962 I resigned [and transferred] when my boss
would not let me send my best programmer to support the Univac Detroit
Edison installation because of his race. Willis Unke.
6.0 Your story here?
Editor's Note: The VIP Club Board and Legacy Committee welcome stories
about careers, our computer systems, and facility operations.
- Over the decades, many people transitioned from an entry level
job to one job to positions of more and more responsibilities -
there were several who began as instructors in the training department
then ended their careers in marketing, i.e. Clint Haggerty, Lyle
Franklin, Gary Holthusen, ...
- One surprise that I've learned while doing Legacy work was
that one computer architecture/design expert started in the training
department, i.e. Glen Kregness.
- One joined the company as a technician after learning some electronics
in the Army, got his GED, became a logic designer and trouble shooter,
and was a top designer in the 90s. His last computer design
was a quad processor board for the Joint Strike Fighter before he
retired in the 2000s -- Dick Erdrich.
- One was a programmer in the early P-3C days, later a program
manager -- Quint Fabro
- One was a programmer in the early P-3C days, later a marketer
-- Tom Hansen
- Jerry Nickel was a flying programmer who became a program manager.
There are hundreds more, if not a few thousand, whose careers blossomed
over the decades. LABenson
Introduction
Our Legacy consists of People
Engineering Systems and Computers
at Locations in the Minnesota Twin Cities environs
and throughout the world. Thus, the sequence of our major Legacy tabs.
