Ronald Brown:
CLASS OF 1970
Maryvale High SchoolClass of 1970
Cheektowaga, NY
Ronald's Story
Condensed version !
Lived in Varysburg NY up to 1996, sold a business and moved to Attica NY until 2001, moved to Greensboro NC for a few years then Brawley California where I worked for Cal Energy. Left the South Calif. desert for ND in 2006. Worked for Fagan Construction commissioning new ethanol plants all over the midwest . 1 billion gallons per year later I started working on a contract basis only in the power industry commissioning new power plants. Except for a gold mine startup in the Dominican Republic, I have worked in the power industry for the last several years. These were in Sasketchwan, CT., WI, and Alaska. More to come.......ok its almost 2019 now.... did another project in Alaska and MD. Right now I'm not sure whats next.... I may have reached end of the line..... Still in ND. update 3/16/2019... back in Fairbanks, another power plant. 1 or 2 after this and I will be almost 70, time to hang up my boots. Home is still Mountain ND and although I enjoy winter, its getting harder every year to handle the subzero months of January and February. I'm looking for slightly warmer climate - where did ya all go to ?? update 3/20/2020, I was in fairbanks until almost end of 2019, have been home since. Looking for next project although looks like nothing will happen until after covid-19 runs its course. Lots of home projects waiting spring weather. 9/2020 well summer is over and I'm still home. I am awaiting a contract offer to commission and startup a gas turbine power plant that has been moth balled for 5 years. Its near Las Vegas but in California, at least I might miss ND winter !!
4/27/21.... been in LV since Oct 1 and plan to go home (ND) end of June. not looking good for 51st reunion. This was supposed to be a 4 month gig..... so it will be at least 9 months. I'm tired of the travel, think this is the last one. I like backpacking and hiking, time for more of that. Planning a few days on the trail out near Old Forge and after that maybe Potter county PA. No more winter climbing, just hiking, while I still can......
7/8/2021 still in Las Vegas... leaving in a couple weeks for home (ND) then to WNY and further East for some backpacking near Old Forge first week of Sept.
2/14/2022 hiking went well near old Forge and returned to wny a few weeks later to visit with family and friends. Now winter is half over here in ND and the snow is piled up 3-4ft where I shoveled or blew it. Waiting for spring melt.... mean while I am looking at a contract in AZ that would run a few months - starting a gas turbine power plant...we will see.
6/30/2022 - well AZ didn't ...Expand for more
happen and I'm still home enjoying good weather in ND. Looking at an opportunity in Ga. , would run about a year at the Vogtle 3&4 Nuke plants where they are about to start initial testing. - Don't know if it will work out - I have done a bit of nuke work and don't really care for it ....but I wouldn't turn it down either. 12/8/2022 I did go to Ga. to start Vogtle3 as an "intial Test Engineer" got through "in processing" at the plant and was beginning to question my decision to take on this 18 month job so far from home. I know Terry was not happy when i left pulling our travel trailer behind. Then I had a phone call for a small gas turbine startup in Iowa, same kind as what I did in Las Vegas and with the same crew. I jumped on it and so today I am in Iowa and I have been able to make it home every other weekend to help Terry out who has been slowed down with health issues. Colder than Ga. but much better to be close to home. At 70 I'm thinking it could be the last for me.
3/17/2023, still in Iowa, this job is winding down and should be out of here by mid May. It has been interesting living out of a 27' camper in sub zero winter weather. Iowa not much warmer than ND. There might be another opportunity later this year in Alabama with this same company. Don't know if I will take on another project, its getting harder to 12 hr days than it was just a few years ago. Also with Terry having problems with a genetic form of arthritus I may eventually become a primary care provider which will end my travels.
7/23/2023 Been home since May, did a week of camping/fishing at Lake Mitigoshe, ND with Terry. Actually had the boat in the water and did some trolling for walleye and pike. Put 11 in the freezer. Next camping trip is to Rochester Mn., no fishing tho - this is a visit to the Mayo Clinic for Terry. No plans to look for another work project. Possible trip East in Sept for hiking around Saranac Lake. Otherwise I just keep chipping away at the honey-do list...lol.
1/28/24 still home, not really looking for another contract, Terry has major surgery next week and a long recovery afterward. I am focused on being here for her. Not missing work at all - there is plenty to do here. Home is also The Pembina Hills Wildlife Rehab Center and while there is no rehabbing going on at present there is a good amount of chores to do just keeping the nearby critters (owls and deer and turkeys right now ) fed through the winter. The owls and deer are either released rehab patients or their offspring that have stuck around. This has been Terrys domain and I now fill in as she is unable to do it.
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