Page 12 - Boiler_Operators_Handbook,_Second_Edition

Acknowledgements

While many authors list people that have supported, guided, or assisted them in the
preparation of their book I failed to do so with the first edition. That was primarily due to
the request of Linda Hutchings at Fairmont Press to produce a boiler operator’s handbook
instead of what I had originally envisioned. The result was an concerted effort to produce
a book that could be called a handbook within a limited time frame that I ran well over. I’m
not certain that I have managed to improve on that target with this edition but I decided
I had better recognize the many people that contributed to the book. At least Linda gave
me some time to work on this second edition so I wasn’t rushed and only submitted the
material two weeks behind the agreed schedule.
Regrettably many of the individuals that contributed to my knowledge and experi-
ence with boiler plants are now dead. Regardless I’m compelled to name them because
they were among what I call the original “steammakers.” The knowledge and experience
I gleaned from working and conversing with them is so great that I can’t find words to
describe it. They’re listed in chronological order because any other means doesn’t seem
right. Chuck Sgamato, the second assistant engineer aboard the African Glade, my first
ship sailing as a cadet, made sure that I understood the duties of every man in the engine
room by doing them. He had me doing the dirty cleanup jobs, firing the boiler, changing
oil burners, etc., all the way up to operating the throttle valves while maneuvering the
ship in and out of port. There were many other ship’s engineers, and crew members, that
aided in my education but Chuck did so much in my first trip that he’s the only one that I
remember well.
When I quit sailing and took my first shore job at Hercules Incorporated Norm Lind,
Walt Applegate, Tom Gamble, Lou Tori and others at Hercules provided the challenges I
needed to develop design experience and a better knowledge of air conditioning.
After Hercules I spent twenty-two years with Power and Combustion and was
allowed to screw up and fix my own screw-ups plus work on many projects that were
unique and difficult and just plain fun to do. I owe a lot to the guidance of Russ Conk-
lin and Ed Deacon and an excellent working relationship with Bob Jackson, Elmer Sells,
Harry Deiter and many steamfitters and boilermakers that enjoyed doing an excellent job
as much as I did. There’s a bunch of us, including Len Stetz, Ray Kollman, Ray DiLiello,
Dave Pugh, Mark Schneider and others that still get together a couple of times a year to
reminisce.
There are many other people that I’ve worked with who contributed to my knowl-
edge and the material in this book that I may forget but they include Charlie Gonnerman
and others at Leach Wallace Associates, Ken Donithan, Lance Brown, and an innumerable
number of boiler plant operators that shared their experiences with me.
Finally, I have to pay loving tribute to my beautiful wife, Sue, who allowed me in
my few minutes of spare time to work on the book in it’s first edition and to prepare this
second edition. She’s been supportive, loving, and helpful in immeasurable ways.

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