When I start thinking about people that have worked at LaCroy and how unique they were it makes me sorry that I didn't have the pleasure of experiencing them all personally. Here are a few more that I did have the pleasure of observing first-hand. Yes, it's time for Color Characters of the Past: The Sequel.
Subwoofer Steve - Steve had a voice that reminded me of one of those electronic voice boxes that you see some people holding up to their throat when they need to talk. You know--the people that have lost their own vocal chords for whatever reason. Subwoofer Steve had a voice so low I really had trouble understanding him. I used to tell people you can always tell when Steve was talking because everybody's car license plates were rattling and buzzing in the parking lot. I think all those years of smoking coupled with a voice box that must have been the size of a pony keg created his unique sound. Word on the streets has it that he would occasionally be seen sneaking a snort from a container he had in his tool box. I remember one time when TJ answered a call from him in the morning--explaining that he wouldn't be in to work. Like TJ said, "I could tell he wasn't at home--you could hear people talking and glasses clinking." It's pretty bad when you call in sick from a bar at 6am. What's even worse? More people there with you doing the same thing.
Chuck/Sharon - This is far and away the most colorful character a shop could ever hope for. So which is it? Let's start with Chuck. Chuck was the one of the quietest people I have ever met. Whenever I saw him in the lunchroom he had is face stuck into a sports page. I'll never forget that day when a few strategic employee meetings were called around the company to explain the wondrous event that was about to take place. As the LaCroy boys so eloquently put it, "You all know Chuck [whatever is last name is] that works in the CNC area. He's been gone a few days and should be back Monday or Tuesday. When he does return his name will be Sharon." You could have heard a pin drop. Nobody was smiling. All the minds of the attendees started racing at a thousand miles an hour at that very moment. Even though our eyes glassed over momentarily as our thoughts went awry we kept the poker faces and listened. After all, this was suddenly no boring meeting! They went on to explain--in no uncertain terms--what would and would not take place upon his/her return to the company. Having something like this happen within their company is one thing that I'm sure they never expected in their wildest dreams. They are a couple guys that study and plan for everything. I'm sure they never planned for this. When Chuck/Sharon finally did come back very little had changed. A little different hair, a little fingernail polish, and two little boobs. All that on a physique that was already a little strange to begin with. Now that I think about it, if the boobs were any bigger than little they just would not have even fit. I know Elaine was less than thrilled to have to share her ladies' restroom with him/her--even if there was a newly installed lock on the door. Sue said when it came time for some employee form they had to fill out for Chuck/Sharon she and Bernie couldn't decide what to fill it with. They left both boxes next to male and female blank on purpose so the broker would have to call them and ask about it because they didn't want to have to choose. After discussing it over the phone, apparently, neither did the broker. Chuck/Sharon didn't stay a long time after that. I think he/she found another job closer to home, which is what most people that leave LaCroy say (It's a popular exit strategy). Anyway, the lock on the ladies' restroom door is all that remains of that time--a time when the Brothers LaCroy had the current day and age slap them right upside the head. For a brief time it was like the company had relocated to Seattle's Capitol Hill or San Francisco.
Justin the Welder - Justin was one of the strangest people I've ever seen. I didn't get a chance to know him, and I'm probably the better for it. He reminded me of Baby Huey. He was a big guy but he didn't act it. He danced to his own drummer. He lived with his mom, and didn't care about working. I believe he literally would have worked for free--he loved welding that much. Many times he wouldn't get around to picking up his paycheck. It's like he didn't care if he was paid or not. You might see him wearing garish shorts, tall socks, and brightly-colored Converse-type tennis shoes. He'd blow in whenever, hide in the back doing his welding, then blow right on out again a few hours later. He was provided many opportunities to do other things in the shop so he could get in a full day of work, but he always declined. "I really just want to weld." he'd say.
Stay tuned: There may be a Part 3... You never know.
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