Reflecting on the 4th of July...

It's been well over a month since I've posted here and I don't know where the heck the time has gone. Over the past month, I road-tripped down to the Elko Mine Expo and had a great time there, visited family in Utah, friends in Wyoming and conducted Part 48 training at the SD School of Mines. I was involved in a fair amount of Fire Dept. activities and numerous home projects. Before I knew it, it was July 4th- the 250th anniversary of this grand experiment I've been fortunate to have been a part of. In spite of all the celebrations, parades, fireworks and such, I kept coming back to thoughts of a gentleman I first came to work for when I returned to the mine after getting out of the Army in the fall of 1983.

Yankee Doodle Dandy-

Bob Varick, aka "Bobby Pureheart", aka "Bobby V"- born on the 4th of July, 1947. He was very proud of having that birthdate. I have a lot of stories about Bob but will share one that comes to mind on this day. Sometime after the first Gulf War I had painted a large American flag on the wall of the 7400 LHD shop. When one of the management types wanted my head on a platter, Bob had my back and ardently defended my artistic expression of patriotism! But that's the kind of leader he was. A wonderful human being, hands on supervisor, problem solver, Army veteran, mentor, friend and confidant. His mining knowledge, mine rescue background, intelligence, fairness and strength still stick with me after all these years. While some of the guidance I gleaned from him might not align with today's societal norms, he will always be one of the top influences in my mining/safety career and life in general. I hope everyone has, or has had people like that in their lives...I hope the fish are biting Bob, and Happy Birthday, America!

Bob Varick, Shift Boss-Beat 52, Division V

Woody Hover, Motorman-7400 Level

Deep Level Trash-circa 1985