Thursday, March 7, 2019
I worked with Blackie almost my entire apprenticeship time, beginning with day one, at Matthews Electric. He taught me many things both as an electrician and as a young man. One memory that I have remembered to this day was when he told me he considered himself, and all working men, as "professional" men...a term usually applied to doctors/lawyers, etc. One very hot day while working on a job in Mendenhall, our employer, L.E. Matthews, was there and showing me some conduit bending technique. As was our custom, we were laughing and joking around. Blackie came over with his usual hot-weather bandanna wrapped around his head and admonished us to cut it out and get it done! After Blackie had walked away several feet, our boss muttered unintelligible words under his breath and whispered to me, "I reckon I told him off"!! Thus was Blackie's boss' respect for him...he knew the man who was valuable to him and his company. Often prospective customers would call Matthews and before giving him the job would ask if Blackie still worked for him. I'll always remember Blackie for his love of Christ, his devotion to his family AND to the electrical profession. Rest in Peace my friend.
