Manatt's Mirror - December 2002

The year 2002 marked a significant milestone in the life of Ray Hartgrave as the end of the season brought about his retirement.

Ray’s employment with Manatt’s, Inc. started in Victor in 1964. While working for Manatt’s, Ray wore many hats. He built septic tanks at Victor and feed bunks, bunker silo panels, and hog slats at Belle Plaine when the farm economy was thriving. At the same time, Ray was also supplying ready mix concrete to the surrounding communities.

Ray served as manager at the Belle Plaine Ready Mix for many years during which time he built a vast customer base with his products and ready mix expertise.

As time passed, Ray opted for less stress in his life and switched gears (so to speak). He spent the rest of his career driving a mixer at Tama Ready Mix, Sand and Gravel. While there, the “man of many hats” hauled concrete, hauled sand and gravel products, ran the end loader, did some mechanical work, and even ran the dredge. Trucks that became his companions were truck #’s 84 (a 1963 Mack), 44, 02, and 27.

Ray made friends quickly and will be missed by the contractors as well as the employees at the Tama plant.