I have been posting on a thread about a Mack ASET-I engine. Turns out, the 'poster' is in Maine.. Turns out, he knows of the shop I used to work at.. Maine Mack, currently O'Connor motor's. ( I was there when the buyout happened)..
This post is hard for me to write, because I cant see the key board very well, through my tears.. I asked our BMT brother about a guy that worked there, another BMT brother posted an article about the person I was asking about.. It was an obituary.. It was my Old Timer friend that I worked with at that Mack dealership.. ''Earl Harnden''.. He hated me for about the first year I was there.. Then He came to me one day to tell me he was wrong about me... He was a cranky Old Coot.. From then on, he became my Mack Daddy.. He took me under his wing, and would willingly teach me all he could about E-6's and E-7's.. We didnt have many 'B' models back then, but he knew them well.. He taught me how to do Really Good work, and to take notes, and to work neatly, and cleanly, and organized... and on and on... He could just stand next to a Mack, and listen, and then tell you where to look.. He just had that way about him.. I have that way too, but , just a drop in the bucket compared to Earl.. He gave me that knowledge.. Every job, especially, engine jobs I did after I left Maine and came to N.C.,,, I always had him in the back of my mind.. ''Ronzo'' he would say,, ''Pay attention!!'' This is how you do this.. He is still in the back of my mind today, even after building dozens of Mack engine's, I always have him with me..
I found out 2 days ago that he left us in Sept. 2022.. Earl, and Men like him, Much like the Mack Truck, are a dying breed.. I am greatful for the knowledge he gave me.. I am also greatful when I see postings that show young'ns who want to carry on the Legacy..
Be that Old Timer that Earl was to me.. It still means something.. Jojo