When did you begin working for OSM?
1979

What locations have you worked, and what did you do?
Pikeville, Kentucky
Terre Haute and Indianapolis, Indiana
Norris, Tennessee (summer 1984 detail)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Denver, Colorado

Looking back, what was your most memorable event(s) while with OSM?
During the Spring of 1979 I was working in the OSM Pikeville, Kentucky, Field Office. I had been recently "empowered" to conduct inspections, and was doing my best in the aftermath of serious flooding along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy around the Phelps / Freeburn area in eastern Pike County.

I was having breakfast early one morning in Phelps, waiting to meet some folks, when a brand new Chevy Corvette wheels in and parks. The driver got out and I recognized him, but could not place him. He came in, and was obviously well know by the other locals.

Suddenly, it came to me! He was Randy McCoy who I played high school football with in O'Fallon, Illinois; and I hadn't seen him since 1972. About the time we recognized one another and started talking, I wondered whether he was related to the area's McCoy mining, which had recently received a few OSM Cessation Orders. Not only was he related, he was a mine manager / company official and quite surprised to find me there as an OSM inspector! Small world!

After a few tense moments discussing SMCRA and their CO's, we resumed talks of the old high schools days and life went on. A few weeks later, he and several family members appeared on "Family Feud" dressed in turn of the century clothing, and opposing the Hatfield Clan. Very cool! It's a Small World.

What were the most significant accomplishments you had?
Hangin' in there for 23 years, still have all my fingers & toes!