This is a letter of nomination for Roy Seichepine as one of your first members in the Linemen's Hall of Fame.
Your call for nominations says that nominations are being received for linemen who continually exceed the call of duty and exemplify those qualities that establish the true nature of the Brotherhood of Electrical Linemen. Roy has responded to the call of duty for over 50 years as a lineman, a teacher, a troubleman and trouble manager, as well as competitor and judge for the International Lineman's Rodeo from inception to this year - 2006.
To give a little history, Roy worked for Kansas City Power and Light for 42 years. he first started climbing poles when he was 16 years old - even though he wasn't yet a lineman. He always did and still does love climbing. He worked for Kansas City Power and Light Company at first as an elevator operator (remember when you needed an operator for an elevator?), and then went into the Marine Corps for a world tour focused on Korea. KCP&L cooperated with the military and the draft, and when Roy returned, he was put right back to work - now as a "grunt" ground man.
How long do you get to be a ground man? Well, just long enough to learn lots of safety "dos and don'ts". As Roy progressed through his apprenticeship and became a journeyman lineman, this safety knowledge held him in good stead. In 1961 he became a journeyman lineman - a tremendously proud moment for him, a young man coming from a humble background, and the first in his family to graduate even from high school.
As Roy moved on in his career, he looked to experience and certify in additional areas of competence such as bare-handing 246,000 colts and then on the special safety training. He was a "go-getter", always supporting the activities of KCP&L when it became clear that they needed a training field, where new hires could learn climbing in a more structured environment. Roy made that training field happen - somehow pulling special and long-overdue favors to get the materials needed for the field. That was the beginning of the Lineman's Rodeo, and Roy has been a part of the Lineman's Rodeo every year from the beginning until this year - he will be judging again this year, as a judge of the Apprentice Hurt Man Rescue and it looks like he will continue to be a part of the rodeo even though not climbing poles himself.
And what is the most rewarding part of being able to climb poles and work to maintain electricity to the customers in the Kansas City area? It's working as a troubleman. When there is a problem with connectivity, who figures out where and what the problem is? The troubleman! Here in the trouble department, Roy was able to work with other linemen who had had many experiences with troubleshooting and maintaining electrical services for Kansas City. There were particular customers who needed immediate attention and prompt solutions. Here in the trouble department, Roy worked in situations way beyond the normal line work for maintaining and expanding general services. here he was able to work with the best, and they took the initiation into trouble work very seriously. They also taught the philosophy of "Git 'r Done", which Roy learned very well. To this day, his philosophy is to "git 'r done". Whatever it takes to get the job done well, and quickly, that what had to be done. Roy was well trained.
On several occasions, Roy responded to a call for help in areas without electricity- areas like Reno and Florida where KCP&L would send lineman and trucks to help restore power to communities needing additional help to provide electricity to their customers. And occasionally, Roy would respond as an individual - going above and beyond the daily responsibilities in the work he has always loved so much.
As time moved on, Roy was asked to take a management position. He was a foreman. he was now working as the leader for a team that provides world-class efficiency and consistency to their customers in Kansas and Missouri.
So, now that you've been trained and experienced in all outside power line work and work safety, and you've been part of a management team, what logically comes next? Well, it is to teach others. Roy became an instructor for the new pre-apprenticeship training at KCP&L. The students learned by climbing the poles that Roy had brought in for the company training field. They learned by doing hands-on work with the dog cages and the boards and all means of electrical work. They worked with the lineman's rodeo and worked to expand their knowledge of general electricity.
After three years, KCP&L cooperated with Penn Valley Community College to offer a Utilityworkers Training Program - an in-depth pre-apprentice training program, with hands-on training resulting in certification as an apprentice. The strength of this program was that Penn Valley could provide quality training with expert resources in people and equipment. It was also a real-life training program, boasting utility trucks, training field, and other actual equipment. This program was a huge success, furthering and expanding the visibility of a strong preparation for safety-minded and well-trained apprentices who are ready to step out of the program right into an apprentice job, know just what is expected of them. And as the head instructor for this program, Roy was an employee of KCP&L and has been for more than 40 years.
Roy was quoted as saying "It's also a way to give something back to the community. It gives people - including minorities and women - a chance to enter a highly skilled, well-paying field at little or no cost. And when they graduate, they'll be able to go right to work." He worked to build team spirit among the group, because that is what they will need in real life. He said that "mainly we work to build pride. If you can't have pride in anything you do, it isn't worth doing."
Roy as always been proud of his work with KCP&L and his role in the community and the community of lineman. He was the "poster child" for W.H. Salisbury and Co., selling line equipment and protective and flexible insulating cover-up equipment. He has been an active participant and/or judge in the Lineman's Rodeo since the beginning. A wall hanging of belt buckles from each year of the International Lineman's Rodeo holds a special place in this man's living room.