I started out working for a small engineering firm in Utica, NY after I got out of the service. I worked for them about 15 years and they got to about 3 hundred employees. They were then bought out by an engineering firm from Chicago, ILL. And we became a wholly owned subsidiary of Harza. After about ten years Harza merged (take over) with Montgomery Watson of San Diego CA. and became Montgomery Watson Harza, i.e. MWH. Well there objective was primarily the bottom line and they would send you anywhere they thought they could benefit from using you. I started to travel a lot more and my last assignment was as Project Manager in Philadelphia, PA. MWH was hired to mange the contracts for the Demolition of a General Electric plant in south Philly. Not the greatest of neighborhoods. And when I say hoods I think you know what I mean. I commuted on a weekly basis from our home in Central NY and after a year, the project was finally completed. MWH had promised me that I would go back to the Albany, NY office but instead they said my next project would be being the project Manager for another Demolition job for G.E. in Chattanooga, TN.
At that point I was pretty burned out so I said I couldn't do that and they said I would have to self terminate. MWH speak for quit. I said I wouldn't and they would have to send me back to the Albany Office or lay me off. Well, they chose to lay me off. So, I spent the next 6 months on unemployment and then went back to work for another small local Architectural/engineering firm doing Project Management work again. I lasted about 8 months and got to the point that I felt I was killing myself and said to hell with this and quit and retired.
I still do work part time doing a little maintenance and repair work for the Town we live in at the Town Office where my wife, Janet works as Deputy Town Clerk,. That way she can keep me out of trouble.
I do like to play tennis, but my tennis buddy fell a few years ago and injured his hip and won't play now so I've sort of stopped playing. I have taken up water color painting last year and have enjoyed that a great deal when I have the time and don't have to work around the house with the upkeep. Being gone so much for several years, the house took a little of a beating with the necessary repairs and I would not pay for some to do the work that I could if I had the time.
Our youngest daughter has her MA in Library Science and works for Syracuse University at Byrd Library.
Walter Pohley
24 E. Second Street
Oneida Castle, NY 13421-2505
(315) 363-8651
wokpjgp AT verizon.net
In preperation for the 1989 Lopez "Early Years 1960-1965" reunion, the following survey was sent to all class members.
Name: Walter Kurt Pohley
Address: 24 East Second St, Oneida Castle, NY 13421
Nickname: Walt
Spouses Name: Janet Griffith
Nickname: Jan
Date of Marriage: 10 July 1971
Names of Children/Dates of Birth: Elizabeth Anne/4 Mar 1974; Stephanie Margaret/10 Mar 1976; Sarah Lynne/3 May 1979
Occupation: Architectural/Engineering Construction Services Rep
Spouses Occupation: Teacher/Homemaker
Hobbies: Golf, Art (Sketching & Watercolor), Reading, Tennis, Fishing
I actually live in central NY about twenty miles east of Syracuse, NY.
I started out working for a small engineering firm in Utica, NY after I got out of the service. I worked for them about 15 years and they got to about 3 hundred employees. They were then bought out by an engineering firm from Chicago, ILL. And we became a wholly owned subsidiary of Harza. After about ten years Harza merged (take over) with Montgomery Watson of San Diego CA. and became Montgomery Watson Harza, i.e. MWH. Well there objective was primarily the bottom line and they would send you anywhere they thought they could benefit from using you. I started to travel a lot more and my last assignment was as Project Manager in Philadelphia, PA.MWH was hired to mange the contracts for the Demolition of a General Electric plant in south Philly. Not the greatest of neighborhoods. And when I say hoods I think you know what I mean. I commuted on a weekly basis from our home in Central NY and after a year, the project was finally completed. MWH had promised me that I would go back to the Albany, NY office but instead they said my next project would be being the project Manager for another Demolition job for G.E. in Chattanooga, TN.
At that point I was pretty burned out so I said I couldn’t do that and they said I would have to self terminate. MWH speak for quit. I said I wouldn’t and they would have to send me back to the Albany Office or lay me off. Well, they chose to lay me off. So, I spent the next 6 months on unemployment and then went back to work for another small local Architectural/engineering firm doing Project Management work again. I lasted about 8 months and got to the point that I felt I was killing myself and said to hell with this and quit and retired.
I still do work part time doing a little maintenance and repair work for the Town we live in at the Town Office where my wife, Janet works as Deputy Town Clerk,. That way she can keep me out of trouble.
I do like to play tennis, but my tennis buddy fell a few years ago and injured his hip and won’t play now so I’ve sort of stopped playing. I have taken up water color painting last year and have enjoyed that a great deal when I have the time and don’t have to work around the house with the upkeep. Being gone so much for several years, the house took a little of a beating with the necessary repairs and I would not pay for some to do the work that I could if I had the time.
Our youngest daughter has her MA in Library Science and works for Syracuse University at Byrd Library.
Mr. Walter Pohley
24 E. Second Street
Oneida Castle, NY 13421-2505
(315) 363-8651