Tom Dugan Was A Good Man

  • Saturday, October 25, 2014

Tom was my boss for most of my 36 years at Carta.  At the ceremony where I was awarded my 30-year service award, Tom said, "Don disagrees with 85% of my decisions, but I wish I had 80 more employees just like him." This kind of indicates our relationship.

When I asked him to help with my plans for a reunion for the group of Veterans that I served with in Vietnam, he quickly volunteered passes to all the Lookout Mountain attractions for all attendees. Once he was making a contract pitch to the union, and his offer for a pay increase ended in so many dollars and 96 cents. I suggested he add four cents more, and round it off to the even dollar. In further negotiations, he did that, and then every time he had a chance, he told me that "my" four cents was costing him $6,500 over a certain time period. 

We were not "friends" in the classic sense. I knew little of his personal life, as he knew little of mine. I will give him credit for the effort he made to get to know his employees after one died on the job. Tom didn't recognize who it was by name, and had to be shown a photo, and realized that they had indeed talked many times. He immediately began a program where he took employees in small groups to lunch, his treat, and sought to know them better. 

On a personal level, I appreciate the advice and assistance he offered when I became physically unable to work. I only wish he had had more time to enjoy his own retirement.

Don Hill, Carta employee, 1975-2010

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