A Diamond in the Rough; Celebrating 75 Years
This week, I’m in Nebraska, honoring the 75th anniversary of our district office in Omaha. That’s pretty remarkable – 75 years. That’s the traditional “diamond” anniversary.
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Next week, I’ll mark 36 years with my bride, and I sure hope we make it to 75! I remember my 50th birthday, we were getting ready to go out. I looked in the mirror and pulled a “Fonzi” (from the Happy Days TV show) – took out my comb and put it away without using it- like my hair looked perfect already. I turned to her and said, “I just turned 50, do I look it?”
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She said, “You used to.” That still cracks me up.�
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So this anniversary has me thinking about how much things change through the years. The Omaha District was originally established in 1934 as part of what was then known as “Missouri River Division” with a straightforward mission of navigation on the main stem of the Missouri, and nothing else.
My, have times changed! Now they do a little bit of everything… dams, levees, flood-fighting, military construction, environmental clean-up… and the list goes on.�
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Here’s a link to a story about some of the really neat things the Omaha District has done through the years – check it out.
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It all boils down to people, though – and Omaha has some GREAT people. Since 2001, more than 100 employees of that small district office have volunteered for service in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and elsewhere. That’s America’s Heartland, right there.
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People are like diamonds – you find out what they’re really made of when you put them under great pressure. The people who’ve made the Omaha District successful these past 75 years are diamonds in my book with all 4 C’s – my own 4 C’s: Character, commitment, Competency and Chemistry!
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Congrats, Omaha District!