My Children,
I was talking with a friend this morning about my favorite Atlanta landmark. I see it every time I travel between Marietta and Decatur. The Concourse King and Queen Towers are a living testimony to your dad's incredible craftsmanship, work ethic, and personal sacrifices for our family. Bill commuted there every day from our home in Powder Springs and helped the architects and engineers construct the towers from the time they were cavernous, muddy holes in the ground until they were finished, and the brilliant crowns of light on top were finally lit during their dedication. Can you imagine what it felt like to complete that size job, Abby?
I was talking with a friend this morning about my favorite Atlanta landmark. I see it every time I travel between Marietta and Decatur. The Concourse King and Queen Towers are a living testimony to your dad's incredible craftsmanship, work ethic, and personal sacrifices for our family. Bill commuted there every day from our home in Powder Springs and helped the architects and engineers construct the towers from the time they were cavernous, muddy holes in the ground until they were finished, and the brilliant crowns of light on top were finally lit during their dedication. Can you imagine what it felt like to complete that size job, Abby?
When the electrical inspector arrived for the first of many walk-throughs and got a glimpse of the perfect, symmetrical pipe bends snaking through the interior of the building, the first words out of his mouth were, "OK. Where is he? Where's O'Hara? This has to be one of his jobs!" He automatically knew your dad's work because excellence was his signature. Sarah, you can see evidence of these same style bends over the road at one of your own favorite places to visit and think about Daddy--Champion Papers in Canton, NC.
Ethan, while it is true that your dad dropped out of college after one semester with a dismal G.P.A., he never let that closed door stop him. Once Bill discovered the career path that interested him, he went after it with everything he had. You know the rest, Hannah. You shared it with one of your new hires at work just the other day. "Show up early, stay late, clean up after you're done, and leave it better than you found it." That summed up your dad's work ethic.
Jim Gallagher often said that Bill O'Hara made him a very wealthy man. Just one indication of how he accomplished that is reflected in the bottom line of the last big job he completed in October 2001. He brought it in six weeks early and three hundred thousand dollars underbid. As a gifted numbers man, Seth, I am sure you appreciate what that took.
Jim Gallagher often said that Bill O'Hara made him a very wealthy man. Just one indication of how he accomplished that is reflected in the bottom line of the last big job he completed in October 2001. He brought it in six weeks early and three hundred thousand dollars underbid. As a gifted numbers man, Seth, I am sure you appreciate what that took.
Luke, you and Hannah (I was expecting her at the time) went with me to visit the King and Queen Tower job site on more than one occasion to just tell Dad we loved him and bring him a home-cooked meal, so this photo should be especially meaningful to you. When he had his lineman boots and hard hat on, your daddy was literally seven feet tall! You had to look up a long way to see his big grin.
So here you go, my precious children. I give to you the most joyous Christmas sight I know of in all Atlanta--Dad's legacy buildings lit up for the holidays.
Much love,
Mom
photo credit http://www.df-photographe.com/contact/
Thank you Kay, what a beautiful tribute. He was a special guy, there was a strength inside him. It was a core of goodness and moral knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Liz! Yes, your brother was a very bright light, indeed.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to browse the growing collection of tribute stories about Bill here in my blog. You can find them under the heading, "Tales of Sweet William."
Merry Christmas, Dear!