Generational Parallels

My family moved to Hazelton, Idaho around 1970. My Dad was the District Manager for the Idaho Power Company there. I was hired as the Maintenance Engineer. Okay...janitor.

Shortly after moving there, my father was going over the accounts. He found one owner of a large farm hadn't paid his power bill in a few years. Further investigation found that the owner had intimidated the past managers and employees to the point they just let the matter lay. That was not my father's way.

Since my father's employees were afraid of this man, my father drove out to the large farm and turned off the power himself. I happened to be in the Idaho Power office when the aforementioned owner arrived in regards to his power shutoff.

The man strode past the front counter and entered my father's office using unkind and less than gentle language. My father quietly told him that there would be no power to his farm until the past due was paid in full.

The farm owner made the mistake off taking a swing at my father with a right hook. My father blocked the blow with his left shoulder and followed with a short right jab to the man's jaw. The farm owner found himself on his backside looking up, I am sure, seeing stars and my father standing over him.

The farm owner paid his bill and was never in arrears again as long as my father was District Manager.

My father once told me he never disciplined his children with his hands because he was afraid he would hurt them. I think his concern was valid.

I mourn the passing of Captain Lindell and Hal Walker's generation. Simple and direct. You may not always have agreed with my father but you always knew "where he stood".

Yeah, I know...