Dan Worgull
Blair and I worked together for almost 25 years both in the field and in the office, so I have many memories. Memories Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? from wiring two Burger Kings at the same time for Derald Gephart as field electricians to doing BlairÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s jobs at Zoecon, Chevron, and Dow Chemical and finally to managing HE together. We also spend many hours in the shop talking about our families, current events, his son AlanÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s first hit in Little League, William playing catcher in Little League (the toughest position), and national sports like Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, volleyball, soccer, boxing, track, tennis, and car racing (did I miss any?). Blair loved sports and talking about his sonsÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢ sports. The day Alan got his hit in Little League, Blair went from office to office bragging about it.Sometimes we would have more Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??seriousÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã? debates about religion, politics, economics or even the world being flat and did Abraham Lincoln really exist? Blair was well-read and could argue any subject intelligently. It didnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t hurt either that I think he could remember the most insignificant facts. I donÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t think he ever lost a debate.A painful memory for me was when I decided to leave Hayward Electric. Blair did not react well to my decision. I know now that the reason for his reaction was that I think he felt that he was losing more than a business associate. We had shared so much, I think he felt that he was losing a friend. The last memory I had with Blair was in April of this year. Blair, Alan Nielson, Matt Yaden and I had lunch at the Ice Creamery in Castro Valley. It was good time and sort of a healing time for the four of us. Afterward, we went up to BlairÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s house to meet Chopper. What a shock, Blair had a dog! IÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢m sure Steve Clemens understands. Anyway, we talked a little more, Blair apologized that Shannon wasnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t home and then gave me hug goodbye! I recall thinking, was this the person I knew for 25 years? To think Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? a dog and a hug. I think he knew at that time that the end was near, and wanted me to know that we would part as friends. Blair was always a man of passion, conviction, and commitment. Regardless of all our ups and downs, I always knew that Blair was, first and foremost, committed to Shannon, then to his two sons, and then to his friends and co-workers. We will all miss you, my friend.Dan Worgull