So how many of us have thanked the ones who got us into this great industry? A lot of the greats have died. Some never really made the lime lite. I Rember 25 yrs ago when I learned how to operate a pump. I never thanked the man for teaching me for giving me his knolage his years of wisdom.  So after 25 years lots of hart ach I'd like to say thank you dad.  You tought me and a lot of other operators many valuable lessons. 

You know I was trained by a couple of guys, some very gifted operators, others not so much, seemed as though the operations manager at that time had a philosophy if you only went out with good operators you never would experience many problems, and he was rite, I learned from others and my own mistakes , also at the water cooler shooting the shit I always listened and learned, so I would say thanks to the good and the bad operators that showed me the ropes .

I would thank my Dad first off!!!! is the best operator I know!! He has trained many of the guys here in Denver, and many would agree. He has patients and 30 years in the industry that equal to great teaching.

 I learn from a guy who had one year of experiance. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned from them. My dad wasn't in pumping but he taught me a to be the best I could be no matter what I did. He was just a normal Joe but he was good a what he did and a lot of other things. He was never afraid to try anything. Last year I won the operator of the year award from the ACPA. I would like to thank my dad for everything he did for me. I would also like to thank the ACPA and all thier sponser's for the award and trip. The last 19 years I've worked for a great company, and tried do my best. Thanks Dad.

 I forgot, Horseman, who are you and your dad.

Don't need one I don't know you most don't know me and if they do they probably wouldn't admit to it. But going from the 640 all the way to a 63. I've been around the block a bit. My dad is in the pumping industry no body famus just one berry smart talented man. Who has made so many sacrifices. It's important to thank them for all they have done and do. U see I haven't spoke or seen mine since wow have to think  since November of last year. Spart by choice part by pride a lot by sheer stupidity. But I still thank him. A lot of you know him some of you don't but he is one of the greats who should be homered for all he has done. 

 Dont let pride, or stupidity get in the way you will regret it. Your dad is still around, mine isn't.

A little to late for that. And I don't know I'd he is or isn't. 

I trained with Ron Rumpza,Chuck & Tim Deem,Chuck Sage for 2 weeks on a boom pump.I don't know if I love them or hate them,just kidding,it's been good to me.

I was self-trained, in the field, on a Thomsen 600.  This was for a small family business that did private lakefront jobs; docks & piers.  Joe Schmidt (Thomsen) taught me troubleshooting circuits and schematics over the phone.  Prior experience: firefighter, electrician, crane operator and various part time jobs, like cab driver.

First factory school, with Joe, was after I'd run the 600 for a year.  I attended when I went to LA to pick up a new HP-747 to take back to Vermont.  Read the manual, on the way back, while my father-in-law took his turns driving.  Put it to work the first day back.

The rest has been "learning by absorption."  Lots of memories.  A few minor scars.

My job, now, is doing what I like, "Further The Art."  In the past 41 years, I've trained hundreds of operators and mechanics, both in the field and in the classroom.  

When asked, "When are you going to retire?" my answer is, "Why? I'm still having fun."  Besides, if I stayed home, under foot all the time, my wife would probably shoot me.

Picture:  Pumping a house foundation with Thomsen 600 - New Hampshire 12/71.  Lesson learned, put something (snowshoes?) under the pipeline, because the heated concrete makes the line sink out of sight. 

I've worked with a lot of the older ones. Bob swan Jim milky Dave tinkle  and the one who stands out the most ken Peterson.  

 Nine yards, I know your a old timer. Youve earned a lot of respect, and I nominate you for the Hall of Fame, Because as you said I think you still love it, and I think your afraid of your wife. Good luck.

dont need one, you know my dad, Dan Sondrol. I would thank you too, and any of the other operators that I have worked with. We all have learned a lot from each other.

Onelostpumper, Bob Swan was still working, at Putzmeister, when I started there.  He's doing well in retirement, despite some past medical issues.  I still trade Christmas cards with Bob and Rita.

In the early 70's, the sales people we saw were Bob Weatherton, Dale Stone and Howard Donnelly.  Allen Gray was the Thomsen Service icon, in the field.  At one time, Dean Matthews (brother) was Eastern Service Tech AND Southeastern Regional sales manager for Thomsen.  He helped a lot of people on the East Coast, in the 80's and early 90's. 

Schwing hadn't really got a foothold in the early 70's.  Our biggest competition, back then, was Frank Tuttle and his Jaeger Pumps.

Until Putzmeister, all my placing experience was East Cost.  We heard some of the names from the West, but didn't know much about them.  I've found the reverse to be true, also.

Picture:  Thomsen 600 and Thomsen HP-747.  Before some makes a smart comment about the wheelbarrow, it was for mixing slurry.

W9Y's: I ran a 600! Be honest! That wheelbarrow is for cleaning up the mess when you've broken the bells a dozen times! It's either the hopper or the hose!

LOL, and how long did it take us to figure out how to make hinges for those damn heavy elbows?

what's a pump mix,those were the days

What would todays operator say when he saw the way you set up a 747? And I too spent a LOT of time on the phone with Joe Schmidt! He was ALWAYS cool about it, and would patiently explain so you would get the concept. And another one of the great old timers was Frank Barradas! BIG construction companys like Guy F Atkinson, Perini Corp, and Peter Kewit used Frank exclusively for a long time, and I got to work on some cool jobs with him! Like the time I pumped 300 yds 2 miles off the California coast from a spider barge with the concrete being delivered by helicopter

W9Y: Did you work for Roteck in the 80's??

Oh yes I remember the days when you would take a thompson to the mountains ( Summit County Colorado) it would pump one day and not the next. Fun times. Or take a titan and you would be fine. The qaulity control of the concrete company's really exist back then. But oh well we made it. Live long and prosper.

Yes, Rotec 1987-1997.

HP747 story.  I was running the ROB branch in Dallas in early '80s.  A customer brought in a 747 for repairs.  It sat for a few days, waiting parts.  The mechanics never saw one before, and asked me to set it up. 

When I pulled up to the test area, without thinking, I automatically rolled up the driver side window as I hit the brakes.  Sure enough, a wall of water from the jib reinforcement hit the window and mirror.  It was pure instinct.  I'd soaked myself too many times in the past.

im 26 years old and my dad also trainned me, ive ran everything from a 28z to a 60m in the past 5 years.

theres a lot of great men in this bisuness many i dont know a few i do and id just like to say thank you to everyone of them its these great men who have paved the way for guys like me who think my 5 yrs is something great i guess when i get 20 more in i can get on here and brag a little but until then you guys keep doing what you do, we all may not be heros around the world but there s things we can do with these pumps that make us heros to contractors everyday.

 Jon Smith1, thats what you have to do every day. I did it, I enjoyed it. I could have gone to work for the biggest but I liked where I worked. It was also fun to be a thorn in thier side. Good luck.

that is so ironic that you would bring that up today. today we lost a legend BIG JOE out of charlotte nc though he did not train me he did train those who trained me. while we are relatively unknown profession those that do know about it know its more complex than just holding a remote box. i love being a CONCRETE PUMP OPERATOR so to those that trained me THANK YOU AND MUCH LOVE! keepem on all 4 and be safe