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Community Stories

Jack Case, warmly remembered.

Hundreds exude warmth for Y‑12 chief (01/23/2006)

By D. Ray Smith — More than 700 people attended Jack Case's retirement on January 29, 1982. This third installment in Case's history focuses on some of their comments regarding their admiration, respect and affection for him.

Case's retirement was held in the Oak Ridge Tool and Engineering's new building at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Emory Valley Road. George Evans was responsible for setting up the event.

“This plant would not be what it is today if it were not for Jack Case.”
— John Murray, Y‑12 Plant Manager from 1954 to 1961

“If someone asked 'Can you make this?' Jack would say 'Yes' if we could or couldn't, but then we would make it!”
— Bill Sahr, supervisor, Y‑12 Fabrication Division

“Jack Case reminds me of President Roosevelt. He was always for the working man, the poor man. Jack always talks to you anywhere you see him; you can't say that about some others.”
— J. D. Davis, Y‑12 Fabrication Division machinist for 31 years

“Jack was one manager you could always depend on to do what he said he'd do.”
— B. W. Hensley, former head of Atomic Trades and Labor Council. (At the time, Hensley was head of the metal trades department of the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.)

“He's the most compassionate person I've ever seen in my life. Whether he's with a cleaner, a machinist, a superintendent, he looks at every individual as an individual. He tries to be fair to all.”
— Tom Webber, General Machine Shop Department Superintendent and veteran of 37 years at Y‑12

“We are losing a jewel, we really are.”
— Hal Simerly, shift superintendent and with 31 years at Y‑12

“You couldn't ask for a better boss.”
— Kay Steed, Case's long time secretary.

“Perfect!”
— Steed's husband, B. M. Steed, a lubricator at Y‑12 with 24 years experience

“I don't know anyone more personable, responsible, always fair and honest and a tremendous craftsman.”
— Tally Livingston, regional director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

“If he met you in New York, he would know you and talk to you. He is a fine person.”
— Theo Thompkins, salvage department worker with 15 years at Y‑12

“He's one of the nicest guys, has the most friends of anyone I know, and one of my favorite people!”
— Bobbie Hill, who worked as a secretary in the plant manager's office

Case stood near the entrance of the huge just barely completed warehouse type structure - Oak Ridge Tool and Engineering building for over an hour shaking hands with those who came to wish him well in retirement. The building did not even have heat installed in it yet, and remember, this was January 29 - likely a bit of chill in the air - but 700 people enjoyed food and drink (there were five cash bars) and honored one very well-liked man.

Anyone who was anyone at all in Union Carbide Nuclear Division spoke that night as did several other dignitaries at what may well have been the largest retirement party in Oak Ridge's history. It was the retirement party for the man known to personify excellent leadership and who brought the “can do” attitude to Y‑12 and by doing so enhanced the reputation of all of Oak Ridge.

Among the people speaking at Jack's retirement from Union Carbide were John Davidson, George Evans, Roger Hibbs, George Jasney, Charlie Robinson, Bill Thomas and Paul Vanstrum. Speakers from other locations were Jack Altarcruse, Goodyear Atomic manager for operations; Hershell Hickman, Doe contract administrator for Y‑12; Steve Root, assistant director weapons division, Lawrence Livermore Scientific Laboratory; Ken Sommerfeld, executive director ORNL; and Clay Zerby, Manager of Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Gordon Fee, new superintendent of the Y‑12 Plant and Case's replacement, introduced Case.

Case concluded the evening by saying, “I am amazed to see so many people here. I really respect so many here who have helped me. When I came here I was 24 years old. The Army made me come, either in uniform or out. I was a tool and die maker, but on my lunch hour I was told to empty the spittoons. In those days you weren't allowed to smoke in the shop. So I carried them out, emptied them, cleaned them. It makes you humble,” he smiled.

“I've enjoyed it all — the rough and the good times. There are some here I've worked closely with who I'll really miss.” He drew attention to his secretary, calling Mrs. Steed a fine, intelligent, helpful woman with whom he's spent more time than his late wife. Case also mentioned George Mitchell and Claude Hensley. “Claude's the best man anywhere on his feet in a machine shop. When he sits down, he's not that good.”

He said he'd always admired the union people and always listened to them. “I respect the man who sweeps my office every day - he does a fine job,” he said matter-of-factly. “People have asked why I'm retiring. I'll be 64 in April, and I'd like to do something else. I'm satisfied that I've done a satisfactory job - not great, but okay. I want to go out while I'm feeling good and try something else,” Case concluded.

Clyde Hopkins' remarks highlighting Case as the person who gained Y‑12 its “can do” reputation were included in a previous article.

Roger Hibbs, president of Union Carbide Nuclear Division, said of Case, “Many say Jack was a pioneer - he was the first EEO (equal employment opportunity) type. Long before equal rights, women's liberation and so on, Jack took on the job of training 700 women who didn't know a milling machine from a washing machine to produce very precise graphite parts.

“He built the first materials testing reactor and took it to Idaho. It was the most intense reactor until Jack built the HFIR. He built all sorts of exotic shapes to make the country's nuclear arsenal. And he was a pioneer in fusion. The Elmo Bumpy Torus would not have reached fruition without Jack. Then there were the wonderful space objects to sample the lunar surface and return with lunar integrity intact. But more important than all of these - all the years Jack was managing Y‑12 - all those thousands of hours, people were five to ten times safer at work than at home.” Hibbs then presented Case a special UCND award presented for only the second time. Hibbs concluded, “Jack is a very firm, fair manager and a helluva fine guy.

“Y‑12 is better. Oak Ridge is better. DOE programs have benefited. In fact, the country is better off because of Jack Case's tremendous ability. His creative work has kept the United States in front of the defense program,” said Paul Vanstrum, Senior Vice President, UCND.

Charlie Robinson, President of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council, said of Case, “He began work with a union card in his pocket and he never forgot that. He built the biggest machine shop in the free world, or as far as I know in the world. I've had a lot of supervisors, line foreman, general foremen, department heads, division heads. The only person I ever called my boss with dignity is Jack Case. We've had disagreements, but he always treated me fairly.”

Case was presented with a number of plaques and mementos, a tall wooden gun rack and a thick leather-covered album of pictures of him and co-workers through the years. Jack's son, Larry, has provided us access to this album and other materials for use in writing these articles.

The quotes in this article came from the front page article by Joan Wallace in the February 1, 1982, edition of The Oak Ridger. Our next article will feature comments contained in a news article from The Oak Ridger written by Dick Smyser about the community's perception of Jack Case.
 

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