The most recent of our losses was Dick Sojka, who was killed in a single car accident south of Washington, Iowa on May 23^rd.  Dick was President of Iowa Bridge and Culvert in Washington.  Dick, along with his partners, the Hansons, were good friends of the Manatts for many years, both in business and personal life.  They were partners with Junie and Merle in the Lake LaMud venture (which was actually Lake Sundown), a private lake development by Moravia, Iowa.  After over 25 years of holding on to the development, it was recently sold.  Manatts has also supplied a lot of concrete to Iowa Bridge and Culvert for their contract work for more years than we can remember.

          When not working Dick loved the ocean and would take short trips to the Caribbean Islands.  Dick would always have a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.  He reminded me of my Grandpa, for in the summer neither would wear socks!  I will truly miss Dick, as will his family, company friends and the industry.  Dick is survived by his wife, Karen, and his children.

          Lafe Proctor passed away May 20^th after a courageous battle with cancer.  He started with Manatt-Carter in 1974 and then worked with my brother, Curt, as a field mechanic until his retirement in the earlier 1990’s.  Lafe was a dedicated and trusted employee.  In the 80’s the PCC crews did a lot of traveling. To and from Louisiana, North Dakota, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska, Lafe would travel with the crews.  He could fix anything!  He loved to take things apart and repair them.  Lafe also cared for his fellow workers.  He was affectionately known as “Pops” and other kind nicknames, because he was truly respected and loved by all.  He touched many of our lives, especially in our younger years.  When things would go bad on the crew, he would always say very slowly, “It will be alright!”

          In the summer he would work in the field and in the winter he would work on the equipment to make ready for spring.  Every winter he would fix the vibrators from the paving equipment.  He would stand in one spot for weeks on end taking apart and fixing those vibrators.  He was our “Concrete Vibrator King!”  And when he had the chance, he loved operating equipment.  He could operate any piece of equipment we owned!

          After retirement, Lafe got into woodworking.  In fact, many of us have pieces he made, especially the wooden carousels and baskets.  He loved his family and in his wife’s illness he cared for her 24-7 to make sure she was comfortable.  Lafe is survived by two sons and two daughters.  Lafe was a good man and a great mechanic.  I am proud to have known and to have worked with him.

          The passing that has taken the most cause for reflection on my part is, of course, that of my brother Tom, who was killed in a canoe accident on April 17^th.  Tom ran our Ames operation and, should I say, he controlled our Ames market.  He was very protective of Ames.  He had a knack of knowing everything going on in his area.  Not just knowing about his crews, but when other Manatt crews were in town or even when the competition was around, he would know what was happening.  He loved his work and the City of Ames.

          Tom was my youngest brother and the fifth of seven kids.  He grew up in Brooklyn just like the rest of us and even as a kid he loved the outdoors.  He loved to hunt and fish.  If it was in season and sometimes even not, he would shoot it.  He was a happy-go-lucky kid, but would never back away from a fight.

          He graduated from BGM High School and spent one year at UNI, where he played football for the Panthers.  He was a tough kid, but through UNI’s football program, he found there were tougher kids then he.  After this one year, the travel bug hit and he went to Colorado to seek fame and fortune.  He found work with TIC, a company that built big industrial projects.  He traveled many western states, building big jobs on the concrete crew.  On one job he must have had some free time that he did something right with, as this was when he met his future wife, Linda.  He was married in 1983 at Incline Village, Nevada and soon afterwards they decided to move back to Brooklyn to work with the family firm.

          Tom spent a few years in Brooklyn working with the PCC crew.  In 1987, he moved to Ames to help Johnny Johnson run the Ames market.  The first few years were lean and tough due to fierce competition.  After the competition was bought out things started to improve.  Thanks to Tom and his leadership over the years, the Ames operation has expanded.  His vision made Manatts, Inc. in Ames the successful company that it is today.

          As I previously mentioned, Tom loved the outdoors.  He traveled to many western states to hunt or fish.  One of his favorite trips was fishing in Alaska for salmon with his son Sean.  Besides hunting and fishing, Tom also loved skiing and snowmobiling.

          Tom was an avid supporter of ISU Athletics.  He loved football and basketball.  On home football games he always threw a great tailgate party.

          Tom’s passing was a great loss to our company and, of course, to me personally.  There is not a day that goes by without me thinking of calling him for advice.  During the season, we were always talking to each other, strategizing and working on problems that may have cropped up.  He was a great partner, friend and brother, and I do miss him.

          Tom leaves his wife, Linda and three fine children, Sean who is 25, Sarah, 20 and Robert, 17 and a senior in high school this coming year.

          The passing of these three great men has caused me to reflect on my life.  To consider what is really important.  It all boils down to family and the ones we love.  Each of these men has touched our hearts and we will never forget them.  They will always be in my prayers.

          Have a safe construction season.