A time for reflection for an old guy!

Tim McElwain

I had posted this on Facebook I got some interesting comments so I thought I would post it here also.

I am wondering what my place in this vast heating industry is. I started at nine years old and am now 80. I have installed furnaces, boilers and every appliance you can think of that burns gas. Installed in my career over 3,000 gas conversion burners both power and atmospheric. Learned electronics in the Navy. Was an instructor at the gas company for 17 years and worked for them for a total of 28 years. Was with Honeywell for 5 years after leaving the gas company. I have now owned and operated a gas equipment training center since 1994. Written over 50 manuals on various subjects related to gas and installation of equipment. I have even stepped over into the oil side a few times mostly to help some oil guy to install a boiler or furnace. Alan Mecurio a few years back actually made me a Honorary Oil Man (thanks Alan) not sure I can really fill that one. In addition to all that with the Natural Gas industry I got involved with the Propane industry in the 1980' and wrote some manuals for that part of the industry. So here is the question what part of this vast industry would claim me????

JUGHNE

We all want to claim you Tim!!
That is a great resume.
Only wish you had an apprentice with you for those years, one who could step into your large shoes and carry the torch on.

God bless you for all your help here and elsewhere.

Steamhead

JUGHNE said:

We all want to claim you Tim!!
That is a great resume.
Only wish you had an apprentice with you for those years, one who could step into your large shoes and carry the torch on.

God bless you for all your help here and elsewhere.

This.

Big Ed_4

You will only be remembered by the work you leave behind .

EBEBRATT-Ed

Stick around here and and other sites. We need someone to tell us what to do

DanHolohan

Those you serve claim you.

lchmb

those who understand and respect your knowledge wish to claim you..

BillyO

the men that have had the pleasure to absorb your knowledge along the way are grateful for your time in field i'm sure

Fred

The universe claims all this is good, Tim. You are a good man and you leave a huge body of information and a documented legacy.

HVACNUT

It sounds like you wrote your own obit @Tim McElwain. And I don't like it.

Too much self reflection. Stop and go forward. We all want people to remember us in a positive way but you know what you've done and the contributions you've made in life. I mean, you lived it, right? Who cares what other people think? Even the Pope, Ghandi, and Mother Teresa have haters. So don't sweat it.

I'm not sure if this came out the way I intended. I mean no harm or disrespect. It just seems to me you're looking down instead of up. If that makes sense.

hot_rod

Keep doing what you love, you have quite the body of work to be proud of.

Look to some new ways to spread your knowledge. Like to talk? Start a podcast. Webinars, Zoom, FaceTime, all sorts of way to play without leaving your home.

A conversation between you and Dan would be an interesting Podcast for Erin to link above.

Solid_Fuel_Man

You carry a big torch @Tim McElwain a big natural gas torch!

Tim McElwain

One of the reasons I posted this is my upcoming retirement. It has always amazed me that all phases of this wonderful industry have recognized my contribution. That is except the natural gas companies them selves many years ago they stopped hiring me and no longer invited me to their conventions. The Propane industry has however along with the Oil industry extended me the hand of fellowship and that is much appreciated. I hope to pass this business on to someone in the very near future. I have one interested individual but it is not yet a done deal. If I don't sell the business then I will have to get rid of all the training equipment, boilers, furnaces etc. It will be a mind boggling task to say the least.

HVACNUT

> @Tim McElwain said:
> It has always amazed me that all phases of this wonderful industry have recognized my contribution. That is except the natural gas companies them selves many years ago they stopped hiring me and no longer invited me to their conventions.


So to heck with them. They lost, you won. Game over.

STEAM DOCTOR

@Tim McElwain . I would assume that you were saying things that they didn't want to hear. Like do things the correct way. Even if it costs more, takes longer and doesn't sit well with the cronies in Tammany Hall.

Tim McElwain

Probably the truth is that the gas industry was going from a service oriented history to no longer offering full service on gas equipment. They were more inclined to be pushing the sale of equipment that burned gas than offering the kind of detailed training that I offer. They were more inclined to have factory reps present short classes on the new products they were offering. They seemed to forget about the gas equipment that was still out there operating and who was going to service it. There were also some presenters at their shows who presented incorrect information. I often found it necessary to question the presentation by those individuals. It has always been the kind of student I am when attending training classes. You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.

jumper

>>Probably the truth is that the gas industry was going from a service oriented history to no longer offering full service on gas equipment<<
Whole economy seems to have moved to disposable. Replace rather than repair?

EBEBRATT-Ed

The sad thing is what some in the industry promote as "training" turns into a sales pitch.

mattmia2

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

The sad thing is what some in the industry promote as "training" turns into a sales pitch.

That isn't just the heating industry...

requiring continuing education credits to keep certifications doesn't exactly help that. Watch this pitch for our product and you get 8 credits to renew your certification. (I work in the AV industry and it is like that)