WEBVTT 00:01.466 --> 00:04.549 (fast, upbeat music) 00:13.540 --> 00:14.900 - Well thank you very much for joining 00:14.900 --> 00:17.130 us here today, Joyce Ridout, it's a pleasure to have 00:17.130 --> 00:19.100 you here at the Corps of Engineers once again. 00:19.100 --> 00:20.710 - Mike. (Joyce laughs) 00:20.710 --> 00:21.880 - Well it's nice to see some retirees stop 00:21.880 --> 00:23.390 back in, and check in on them 00:23.390 --> 00:24.690 and see how they're doing. 00:25.631 --> 00:26.780 I wanted to start with some basic questions 00:26.780 --> 00:28.860 about your experience with the Corps of Engineers. 00:28.860 --> 00:30.540 When did you start with us? 00:30.540 --> 00:32.710 - October of 1985. 00:32.710 --> 00:33.850 - 1985? 00:33.850 --> 00:35.830 Okay, what was going around that time, 00:35.830 --> 00:37.230 what made you decide to go into 00:37.230 --> 00:38.670 the Corps of Engineers? 00:38.670 --> 00:40.820 - I was a Federal employee already, 00:40.820 --> 00:43.408 I moved here from Iowa City, 00:43.408 --> 00:48.240 VA, to be closer to my family which is all here. 00:48.240 --> 00:49.880 - Okay, now when you were working for 00:49.880 --> 00:51.459 the Federal Government what kind of 00:51.459 --> 00:53.080 work were you doing prior to the Corps? 00:53.080 --> 00:54.750 - I've always been an admin. 00:54.750 --> 00:55.990 - Oh alright! 00:55.990 --> 00:58.770 Did you have a particular thing about admin 00:58.770 --> 01:00.610 that you liked that you liked that made you wanna 01:00.610 --> 01:01.900 get into it here? 01:01.900 --> 01:04.110 - It's just the schooling I'd had. 01:04.110 --> 01:05.520 - Oh okay. 01:05.520 --> 01:07.630 And how long have you been retired now? 01:07.630 --> 01:09.710 - January 3rd, 2015. 01:09.710 --> 01:11.490 - Okay, you have a very precise date, 01:11.490 --> 01:13.105 must've been a pretty memorable day. 01:13.105 --> 01:13.938 - Yes it was. 01:13.938 --> 01:14.990 (both chuckle) 01:14.990 --> 01:16.550 - Which department were you working for when 01:16.550 --> 01:18.090 you first started with us? 01:18.090 --> 01:20.460 - It's called the MRD Laboratory. 01:20.460 --> 01:21.920 - What does MRD stand for? 01:21.920 --> 01:23.810 - Missouri River Division 01:23.810 --> 01:24.643 - Okay 01:24.643 --> 01:26.360 - There used to be a division here in Omaha. 01:26.360 --> 01:27.193 - Oh, really? 01:27.193 --> 01:28.026 - Yes - Okay 01:28.870 --> 01:30.364 - We had our own general (chuckles) 01:30.364 --> 01:32.670 - So you went through that transition phase, huh? 01:33.590 --> 01:36.530 - The lab was part of the division, 01:36.530 --> 01:38.340 and then, 01:38.340 --> 01:39.990 the division moved to Portland, 01:39.990 --> 01:42.900 it wasn't in Portland, it hasn't always been in Portland. 01:42.900 --> 01:45.630 - Okay, what was that like being an admin, 01:45.630 --> 01:47.110 going through that administrative change, 01:47.110 --> 01:48.310 was that very stressful? 01:49.410 --> 01:51.110 Or didn't it affect you too much? 01:51.110 --> 01:52.993 - It didn't affect us a whole lot, 01:53.880 --> 01:55.490 - Okay 01:55.490 --> 01:58.220 because the lab, once the division moved 01:58.220 --> 01:59.323 to Portland, 02:00.260 --> 02:03.383 the lab became part of ERDC. 02:04.680 --> 02:07.280 - What kind of departments had you been in, 02:07.280 --> 02:09.260 I know you started there, but did you hop around 02:09.260 --> 02:10.093 a little bit? 02:10.093 --> 02:13.551 - Nope, I worked at the lab for 15 years. 02:13.551 --> 02:14.384 - Oh, wow! 02:14.384 --> 02:17.300 - And then I moved over to Hydranautic Engineering, 02:17.300 --> 02:19.450 and worked there for 14 years. 02:19.450 --> 02:21.470 - Did you pick up a lot of engineering terminology 02:21.470 --> 02:22.457 while you were there? 02:22.457 --> 02:23.390 - Yes 02:23.390 --> 02:25.020 - Do you ever use that in casual 02:25.020 --> 02:27.170 conversation at parties? 02:27.170 --> 02:28.189 - Not really, 02:28.189 --> 02:29.505 (interviewer laughs) 02:29.505 --> 02:30.920 but I have a friend who 02:30.920 --> 02:34.860 is surprised that I know as much about engineering 02:34.860 --> 02:38.660 as I do, because I've worked, 02:38.660 --> 02:41.180 when I worked in Iowa city for five years, 02:41.180 --> 02:43.820 I worked in the College of Engineering. 02:43.820 --> 02:45.320 - Would you consider that one of the biggest 02:45.320 --> 02:47.650 changes that you saw in the Corps of Engineers 02:47.650 --> 02:49.930 during that time, or is there any other time 02:50.849 --> 02:52.160 that you could articulate that may have been 02:52.160 --> 02:55.110 a major change over the time that you were here? 02:55.110 --> 02:59.160 - When I started, in the lab, computers were 02:59.160 --> 03:02.590 just being introduced, and then progressed 03:02.590 --> 03:04.280 through what they are today. 03:04.280 --> 03:07.800 - Okay, now admin people use computers all day, 03:07.800 --> 03:09.960 so what was it like, I mean, did you have 03:09.960 --> 03:11.880 to get special training to be able to start 03:11.880 --> 03:14.900 doing your new job in the computer situation, 03:14.900 --> 03:16.006 or how did that work out? 03:16.006 --> 03:18.170 - Yeah, we did, because we were still using 03:18.170 --> 03:19.760 electronic typewriters. 03:19.760 --> 03:20.593 - Oh, wow. 03:21.800 --> 03:23.450 So, 03:23.450 --> 03:26.270 you started with like older version of typewriters 03:26.270 --> 03:28.220 and moved to newer ones, and then computers 03:28.220 --> 03:29.450 started to be introduced, or did you 03:29.450 --> 03:31.300 have those Smith Corona's that 03:31.300 --> 03:33.510 were kind of word processors? 03:33.510 --> 03:35.050 - Those were the final ones, 03:35.050 --> 03:36.940 I learned to type on a manual. 03:36.940 --> 03:37.773 - Oh, wow. 03:37.773 --> 03:38.820 - I'm 66. 03:38.820 --> 03:40.160 (interviewer chuckles) 03:40.160 --> 03:43.523 - Yeah, people did take typing courses back then 03:43.523 --> 03:44.356 - Yes they did 03:44.356 --> 03:45.750 - I'm sure they still do these days but, a very 03:45.750 --> 03:48.165 different scenario, when you have the carriage 03:48.165 --> 03:49.010 moving back and forth and, 03:49.010 --> 03:50.463 - Yes 03:50.463 --> 03:51.983 - now you don't have to worry about those things. 03:53.030 --> 03:55.060 Is there anything that you wanted to 03:55.060 --> 03:57.530 accomplish here, in the Corps of Engineers, 03:57.530 --> 03:59.784 that you wish you had, 03:59.784 --> 04:01.327 in the time that you were here? 04:01.327 --> 04:04.430 - Not really, I, you know, became active and 04:08.673 --> 04:11.607 charitable, and payback to the community and stuff. 04:12.456 --> 04:14.663 - Can you tell me more about some of those 04:14.663 --> 04:15.540 charitable activities? 04:15.540 --> 04:19.500 - Operation Santa, is the umbrella, 04:19.500 --> 04:24.500 and the Paint-a-thon, we had an executive assistant 04:24.763 --> 04:26.923 by the name of Norma Colby, 04:27.870 --> 04:32.360 who kinda took me under her wing and got me active, 04:32.360 --> 04:35.420 even when we were located, 04:35.420 --> 04:36.540 the lab was at 04:36.540 --> 04:37.940 18th and Howard. 04:37.940 --> 04:41.000 - Okay, how long has Operation Santa been going on. 04:41.000 --> 04:42.270 - 50 plus years. 04:42.270 --> 04:43.410 - Really, I had no idea! 04:43.410 --> 04:44.910 - Started in the 60s. 04:44.910 --> 04:46.458 - Oh wow, that's pretty great. 04:46.458 --> 04:47.291 - Yep. 04:47.291 --> 04:49.000 - What about the Paint-a-thon, now I think 04:49.000 --> 04:49.833 that's been not as long, right? 04:49.833 --> 04:50.666 - 23, 24, 04:54.570 --> 04:58.100 they have records that we started in '95, 04:58.100 --> 05:00.960 but I have a picture from 1994. 05:00.960 --> 05:01.920 - [Interviewer] Okay. 05:01.920 --> 05:03.680 - [Joyce] And, I was on the first team, 05:03.680 --> 05:05.840 Norma got me in, Norma and Barbara and Leonard, 05:05.840 --> 05:07.630 who was a contracting specialist. 05:07.630 --> 05:09.410 - Did you ever have people reach out years 05:09.410 --> 05:11.680 later and touch base and say, 05:11.680 --> 05:13.380 hey, how are things again, you know, 05:13.380 --> 05:15.100 house looks good, or did you ever drive 05:15.100 --> 05:16.912 by the houses later and. 05:16.912 --> 05:18.323 - I drive by the houses all the time. 05:18.323 --> 05:19.156 - Do ya? 05:19.156 --> 05:20.520 Yeah, just to kinda catch up and make sure 05:20.520 --> 05:22.160 that they're still holding good? 05:22.160 --> 05:22.993 - Yes, yes. 05:22.993 --> 05:23.826 - Yeah? 05:23.826 --> 05:24.880 Well that's pretty cool, 05:28.479 --> 05:29.312 can you give me more information what 05:29.312 --> 05:30.880 the Operation Santa is? 05:30.880 --> 05:34.410 - Operation Santa is an umbrella that 05:35.729 --> 05:39.290 the district people started years ago, 05:39.290 --> 05:41.910 to reach back to the community, 05:41.910 --> 05:44.550 to give back to the community. 05:44.550 --> 05:48.550 At Christmas, more so than anything, 05:48.550 --> 05:51.400 we entertain at Douglas County Home, 05:51.400 --> 05:54.380 and we entertain at Glenwood Resource Center. 05:54.380 --> 05:58.000 But there is also a wider 05:59.300 --> 06:00.620 scope of the things 06:00.620 --> 06:02.540 that Operation Santa does. 06:02.540 --> 06:03.623 - Oh, okay. 06:05.770 --> 06:08.160 - The employees of the Omaha district giving back. 06:08.160 --> 06:09.710 - Well that's great, it's wonderful that 06:09.710 --> 06:11.210 you were part of that early on, 06:11.210 --> 06:12.255 - Yeah. 06:12.255 --> 06:14.050 - it's like you left quite a legacy here. 06:14.050 --> 06:17.750 Can you tell me about any particular moment, 06:17.750 --> 06:20.740 that might stand out, either with Operation Santa 06:20.740 --> 06:24.795 or Paint-a-thon, or any time that you were here? 06:24.795 --> 06:27.513 That kind of brings back good memories for you? 06:28.377 --> 06:32.171 - Good memories, 06:32.171 --> 06:33.950 I had a lot of good memories, 06:33.950 --> 06:35.193 made a lot of friends, 06:36.250 --> 06:37.083 - That's good. 06:37.083 --> 06:37.916 - over the years. 06:37.916 --> 06:39.560 - Now, so you are a part of the Rodeo Group. 06:39.560 --> 06:43.110 - Yes I am, I belong to Rodeo, 06:43.110 --> 06:44.543 we meet three times a year. 06:45.650 --> 06:46.933 - What kind of stuff does Rodeo do? 06:49.780 --> 06:52.340 - Basically, gets us together, keeps us 06:52.340 --> 06:55.623 apprised of what's going on, 06:56.470 --> 06:57.303 we 06:59.240 --> 07:01.447 get to see everybody that's retired. 07:01.447 --> 07:02.280 (Joyce chuckles) 07:02.280 --> 07:04.140 - Is it nice to be able to see some familiar faces? 07:04.140 --> 07:05.223 - Oh, heavens yes. 07:06.580 --> 07:09.530 - It's less shortened when you have all 07:09.530 --> 07:11.510 these relationships you've built and 07:11.510 --> 07:12.960 you don't see them as regularly at work 07:12.960 --> 07:14.530 anymore, it's nice to be able to have a 07:14.530 --> 07:15.920 - Yes it is, extremely 07:15.920 --> 07:17.910 - to see those people. 07:17.910 --> 07:19.860 Was there anyone that you've worked with, 07:19.860 --> 07:22.610 over the years that may have, 07:22.610 --> 07:23.443 you know, looked up to, 07:23.443 --> 07:25.420 I think you mentioned someone earlier that 07:25.420 --> 07:27.190 someone took you under their wing. 07:27.190 --> 07:28.023 - Norma Colby. 07:28.023 --> 07:30.120 - Yeah, can you tell me a little bit about her, 07:30.120 --> 07:31.640 or that relationship? 07:31.640 --> 07:33.083 - Norma was the XO, 07:35.120 --> 07:36.763 she was an amazing lady, 07:38.600 --> 07:40.138 she passed away 07:40.138 --> 07:40.971 (interviewer sighs) 07:40.971 --> 07:44.443 from an aneurysm, in 2002, I think it was, 07:45.530 --> 07:46.433 but she, 07:47.570 --> 07:49.450 she started out, 07:49.450 --> 07:50.920 I think in the mail room, 07:50.920 --> 07:53.080 and ended up as Chief of Personnel. 07:53.080 --> 07:53.913 - That's fantastic. 07:53.913 --> 07:56.730 - And then XO, and, she was a very, 07:56.730 --> 07:57.970 very amazing lady. 07:57.970 --> 07:59.530 - That's a great success story, 07:59.530 --> 08:03.030 it's nice to have someone who 08:03.030 --> 08:04.600 can make work a little bit easier, 08:04.600 --> 08:07.080 when you come in and they kind of 08:07.080 --> 08:09.410 inspire you, or get you excited, 08:09.410 --> 08:11.770 or make work a little less trapped sometimes. 08:11.770 --> 08:15.440 - Well, so many people, when at the lab, 08:15.440 --> 08:17.920 people forgot the lab was there a lot, 08:17.920 --> 08:20.158 Norma always included us. 08:20.158 --> 08:20.991 - Aw, that's good. 08:20.991 --> 08:23.129 - Even though we were division at first, 08:23.129 --> 08:24.979 and then ERDC, she still included us. 08:25.876 --> 08:27.380 - Well, so what are you up to these days, 08:27.380 --> 08:28.800 I mean you're retired, 08:28.800 --> 08:30.710 and enjoying your retirement hopefully. 08:30.710 --> 08:34.500 - Yes, I still participate in the Operation Santa, 08:34.500 --> 08:35.333 Paint-a-thon, 08:37.620 --> 08:38.453 I took up 08:39.410 --> 08:42.460 cycling, after I retired. 08:42.460 --> 08:44.010 - Do you still cycle during the winter, 08:44.010 --> 08:45.300 I know it's been a little challenging, 08:45.300 --> 08:47.770 but we have a few people around here who are adamant. 08:47.770 --> 08:52.018 - Actually, I have what's called a trainer, 08:52.018 --> 08:53.830 I put my, 08:53.830 --> 08:56.180 I have a hybrid cross, 08:56.180 --> 08:57.013 - Oh, okay. 08:57.013 --> 09:00.610 - mountain and trail bike, and I have a trainer, 09:00.610 --> 09:03.120 you put it up and you ride it in the house. 09:03.120 --> 09:04.920 - I understand that there is some sort of pathway 09:04.920 --> 09:07.200 around the district here, is there? 09:07.200 --> 09:09.650 - Around. oh the, Omaha and Council Bluffs has 09:09.650 --> 09:13.680 an amazing, amazing set of trails for people 09:13.680 --> 09:15.130 that enjoy riding bikes. 09:15.130 --> 09:16.585 - Well, that's great. 09:16.585 --> 09:18.770 - And walking, almost all the levees have 09:18.770 --> 09:21.540 a path on top of them. 09:21.540 --> 09:22.660 - Well, that's good. 09:22.660 --> 09:25.710 - If you're interested, there's tons of cyclists 09:25.710 --> 09:27.140 here in the building. 09:27.140 --> 09:28.193 Was the one thing, 09:29.186 --> 09:30.030 but clerical people, they came to the 09:30.030 --> 09:31.600 business school and recruited us. 09:31.600 --> 09:33.790 - Did you have an area of expertise 09:33.790 --> 09:34.880 in the clerical field? 09:34.880 --> 09:37.530 Some people go and they take short-hand, 09:37.530 --> 09:40.847 or they do typing, or they do dictation, 09:41.824 --> 09:43.431 did you all that kind of stuff? 09:43.431 --> 09:44.270 - No, I knew all that, 09:44.270 --> 09:49.270 my degree from my business school is in stenography. 09:49.730 --> 09:52.250 - Oh wow, that's pretty interesting. 09:52.250 --> 09:54.873 Did you do that outside of the government as well? 09:56.270 --> 09:57.793 - As little as I had to. 09:57.793 --> 09:59.268 (interviewer laughs) 09:59.268 --> 10:00.890 - But it wasn't necessarily what you were 10:00.890 --> 10:01.760 interested in doing. 10:01.760 --> 10:02.660 - Nope, it wasn't. 10:03.725 --> 10:04.580 - Well, is there anything else that 10:04.580 --> 10:05.680 you might want to add? 10:06.853 --> 10:09.524 - No, retirement is wonderful. 10:09.524 --> 10:10.460 (Joyce laughs) 10:10.460 --> 10:13.210 - We sure appreciate you coming here today, 10:13.210 --> 10:14.730 and you're welcome to stop in anytime, 10:14.730 --> 10:16.980 we hope to see you at the next event. 10:16.980 --> 10:20.150 - Let's see, the next event, this is February. 10:20.150 --> 10:22.160 June, for you guys. 10:22.160 --> 10:23.810 - Yeah, Corps day, right? 10:23.810 --> 10:24.950 Hopefully, we'll see you there. 10:24.950 --> 10:26.310 - Oh yeah, I generally come. 10:26.310 --> 10:27.930 - Great, well thank you very much. 10:27.930 --> 10:28.763 - Nice to meet you. 10:28.763 --> 10:29.913 - It was a pleasure. 10:29.913 --> 10:30.746 - Okay.