|
|
|
|
o |
|
Terry "SNAKE" Whitecar (IC2SS) USS SPINAX 11/66-10/69 Biography Great Adventure! In October of 1969 I left the boat and the Navy. My wife Linda and our daughter Tammy (she was born while we were in WestPac), headed home to Tampa, Florida. I was hired by Florida Power Corporation the week I returned home. Our second daughter, Tina was born in October of 1970. For 5 years I worked on a distribution line crew, (climbed a lot of poles, learned to operate a bucket truck). Then I was in charge of 12 contract tree crews for 5 years. I utilized the G.I. Bill to earn an associate degree, and then moved into distribution engineering where I stayed the next 11 years. The last 14 1/2 years, I managed rights-of-way issues and the vegetation management on 4,600 miles of high voltage rights-of-way. For several years one of my favorite responsibilities was helicopter patrol of the entire transmission system 3 times a year plus storms. I was usually the forester observer, but because of my line experience I occasionally flew as a line observer as well. (I have many hundreds of seat hours in various types of helicopters). Over the years I worked a number of major hurricanes in various capacities, from climbing poles to working foreman. During the 4 major hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004 I was in the transmission logistics center. Well all good things must come to an end. In June of 2005 as lead forester I accepted an early retirement package from what is now Progress Energy. I had 35 years and 8 months with the power company, most of them challenging and exciting. I started my new job in January 2006 with UAP (United Agri Products) I am a vegetation management consultant for electrical utilities and herbicide salesman. When I reported on board the Spinax I arrived with a duffle bag and a "Snake Hook". I was tagged with my nickname "Snake" before I ever came below deck after explaining that a "snake hook" was used for catching snakes. I had been interested in snakes even as a little boy. As I became a teenager, I had a particular interest in venomous snakes and venom research (milking rattlesnakes and water moccasins, etc.) Linda and our daughters always had a house full of snakes at least until our girls left home. I was the company "snake man" presenting snake identification and safety programs my entire career. I have published numerous articles on snakes, co-authored a paper on "snake genetics" in a prestigious professional journal, and presented a paper at an international conference on reptiles at Case Western University. I don't keep snakes anymore, but I often have the opportunity to see and appreciate them in the wild. In 1999 I became an International Society of Arboriculture "Certified Arborist / Utility Specialist". When we see "Yawl" in 2009 I will be a "Board Certified Master Arborist" and also retired. We live on a couple of wooded acres in north central Florida and have part of it set up as a tree nursery. Linda insists that I am much too old to climb big trees now. I can do all of the nursery tree trimming without leaving the ground, this makes Linda very happy. My wonderful wife has put up with me as a sailor, snake keeper, arborist, tons of dirt and many little trees for 40 years this June. We were successful in raising 2 wonderful daughters. We have 4 terrific grand children, 3 boys and one girl. I am sure at least one of them will be a "snake man."
|
