Taking Responsibility; Keeping Time Commitments; Mistakes as an Opportunity for Learning; Taking Pride in Your Work; and Meeting Job Expectations! These are some of the lessons I learned from my first boss, Dale Nakken, at the Cyclone Fence Division of United States Steel.

After graduating high school in 1964, I took a summer job as a laborer for Cyclone Fence. This would continue until I finished college in 1968 when I was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, I worked with Dale for another four summers while I attended graduate school.

I got the job because my father was the West Coast Manager for Cyclone Fence. The only problem was that I worried people would be too cautious around the "boss's son" and I may have privileges that other workers may not have. Little did I know that my father had placed me under the supervision of a no-nonsense, Native American leader that kept high expectations for everyone. He also was a compassionate, loving person that I have visited every year in his home at the Tulalip Indian Reservation north of Seattle. He lived to the age of 95 and passed away in August, 2020.

My first job with Dale was building a baseball backstop and I was amazed at how he could scramble up ladders and hang off fence mesh while tying it to pipes he had heated and bent. To me this curved backstop was a maze of cuts and corners that seemed like a puzzle I could never figure out. But Dale patiently explained the steps I needed to follow in very simplified terms that I eventually understood. I made a few mistakes but quickly learned from them under Dale's supervision.

After arriving 20 minutes late one morning after partying with my friends the previous evening, I was called out in front of the entire crew and had to work an extra hour at the end of the day. It was made clear that everyone on this team relies on each other and that if I ever came late again, I could lose my job. I subsequently saved my partying until the weekend.

The next job was to install 20 miles of fencing over the mountains from Western Washington to Eastern Washington along Interstate Highway 90. We had to dig 4-foot holes for 12-foot square wooden fence posts that weighed 200 pounds, and then fill the holes with cement. Dale would then line up the posts while us laborers would adjust them to the correct height before the cement became too hard.

Unfortunately, this 8-foot, wild game fence had to be far back from the freeway which meant that there was often no way to drive a truck close to our work area. At times we had to helicopter these massive posts and heavy steel fencing to drop off points on the mountain trail and then haul everything on our backs. We even had to load up backpacks with cement and hike up to the fence line.

The first time I tried to lift a 12-foot post on to my shoulder and follow Dale who was carrying a post on each shoulder, I immediately fell backwards to the delight of the 3 "Old Timers" who knew exactly what would happen. I never was able to master two posts but I was able to keep up with one. Needless to say, I felt like the Incredible Hulk after 2 summers on that job and took much "PRIDE" in what I accomplished.

Through all these jobs, Dale had given me more responsibility. He eventually promoted me to the position of Ironworker which meant I could now be in charge of setting all the posts in the fence line and use my father's blueprints to lay out the job on the first day.

My first opportunity to do this was in Montana where we were building fencing around underground missile sites. Fortunately, the ground was flat and straight so it was a good training ground for me to learn how to set the line of fence posts and then string the wire.

Once again Dale trusted me to work hard and complete the tasks in a professional manner. He even worked with me as a laborer, setting the posts to the correct height as I directed him to do. He had me quickly review my work and then calmly showed me where I needed to make corrections. He expected me to not repeat those mistakes and I eagerly wanted to please him.

He then allowed me to be the "boss" for building 23 tennis courts in Sun Valley, Idaho. I was even able to hire my own crew of two. We divided the 23 courts and I was basically managing my own job. He was always available for consultation and he never made me feel "stupid" for asking questions.

I thank Dale for helping me learn how to become a compassionate leader who treats his employees with respect and high, realistic expectations. Dale became a second father to me and throughout my life he was always available with his calm way to listen to my growing pangs as well as honestly express his opinion.

I will miss our yearly meetings, Dale, but I will always hold your many lessons deeply inside me!

Your loving Protégé,

Ed: Your Iron Man

~ Ed Lewis