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“It went by really fast. It seems like I just started yesterday.”
Plumber Leader Craig Wyatt walked through the doors of Louisville Water in December 1999. Almost exactly one year later, Plumber Leader Jason McGinty started his career here. At the end of July, both will turn in their hard hats and begin a new chapter: retirement.
As they reflect on long and successful careers working for Louisville Water, each shared stories of how they were fortunate to have great mentors within Local 1683 to show them the ropes, or should we say pipes.
“I worked for great lead men. I was able to work in areas like the fire hydrants, small services, large services, and they really taught me a whole lot,” said McGinty. “A lot of it is you have to be humble and willing to learn.”
When asked how he approaches his role as a plumber leader, Wyatt said, “I always think (back to when) I was new, I didn’t know anything. I had some guys that were patient and showed you exactly what to do. They let you do it and sometimes you messed it up, that’s just part of it. Nobody really got upset about it. One guy would always tell me that if you don’t mess it up, you’re not doing enough. That kind of stuck with me.”
Eventually, Wyatt and McGinty found themselves in the class of teachers and mentors for the newer crews.
“It’s kind of neat to see a guy from day one, transform, say in a year, and get to learn the work and then you’ll see him just do everything at ease. That’s kind of a cool thing to witness,” Wyatt shared.
“I enjoy being able to teach young guys, explain to them in detail what’s going on, what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it. That’s the best part,” McGinty said.
For anyone who knows him, it’s no surprise that McGinty always finds a way to bring humor to the job.
“I enjoy working with the guys, cutting up, keeping fun on my crew. You gotta keep it fun, that way you’re not working, you’re just enjoying what you’re doing.”
Sometimes those moments just happen naturally. Wyatt joked that he’s had “some really funny memories on the job, weird things that have happened. Say you’ve got fresh concrete, and somebody walks in it, or we’ve had a time where somebody drives off in the concrete when you just finished it.”
Finishing the job has meant plenty of long days and nights, in the rain, snow, scorching heat, and arctic air. They’ve seen it all, enduring one last heat wave at the end of June, before they go.
Wyatt said, “I think the heat, the really hot, hot heat is what gets you. But it seems like when it’s really cold, you wish for the heat, and when it’s hot, you wish for the cold. I don’t think you ever get totally used to it.”
McGinty has spent most of the last several years installing new services. He said, “When I drive down the street and I see a meter that I’ve put in, which is probably three or four thousand now…” it instills a sense of pride.
For both men, providing high-quality Louisville Pure Tap® for the customers is what it’s all about.
“You want to do a good job,” Wyatt said. “You want to represent Louisville Water well whenever you’re out on the street. You want to come across as professional as you can, dirty and all (laughs).”
After more than two decades of service, it’s safe to say, mission accomplished.
“That’s what I think about the most, is how fast it went by. It’s been a lot of fun. I feel like I’m leaving a big party,” Wyatt said.
“At the end of the day, it’s a great job,” McGinty said but quickly adding, “I can’t wait for my next job to get off at 3:30, 4 o’clock and be done.”
Both McGinty and Wyatt admit they won’t stay retired, but where their next job takes them remains to be seen. But first, Wyatt looks forward to driving cross-country to visit his son in Arizona. One of McGinty’s first assignments will be moving his two daughters off to college.
