Hospital District # 6 – The Anthony Hospital
. Gary’s juncture with the Anthony Hospital was about to be accomplished, having received a phone call to attend a scheduled morning interview with the hospital administrator, regarding his employment as a maintenance assistant. Entering the administration domain, the secretary cordially acknowledging his arrival, ushering him into the Administrator’s office. Gary somewhat surprised to find a younger person attired in a three-piece suit seated at a desk, raising, shaking hands and with a smile introducing himself as Jay Jolly, Hospital Administrator. Seated in attendance was two other persons, a diminutive elderly man, whom Gary appraised as abutting 60 plus years of age, the other remaining person even more senior, judging him to be in his seventies. The Administrator introducing the younger of the two as Roy Stein, the facilities maintenance facilitator, the administrator asserting that Roy was present during the hospital’s conception in 1967, having participated in its construction, returning later to preside in the maintenance department.
. The introductions continuing, the eldest of the two introduced as Jim White, a retired mechanical and industrial engineer, who in the past had been charged with the supervision of the City of Anthony’s maintenance, road and public utilities department, the Administrator adding, he relied upon Jim as the Hospital Plant Consultant. Jay acknowledging Gary’s application, stating with Roy’s concurrence, he was turning the interview process over to Jim White, and Jim would afford the tour of the building. Gary was somewhat apprehensive, expecting a sit-down interview with an administrator and maintenance supervisor, instead acquiring an audience and inquisition by a retired City of Anthony engineer.
. Gary’s trepidation was soon put to rest, Jim White’s outward commodious personality setting Gary at ease. The touring excursion commencing with an introduction to the hospital’s equipment complex, a large basement housing all the environmental, utility and clinical systems. The hospital structure itself, a unique solid concrete cold-war era designed building, the concrete roof and walls integrity designated as an emergency fall-out and storm shelter. The building constructed with a maze like underground enclosed lighted labyrinth tunneling system, allowing passage beneath the hospital corridors and access to all plumbing and electrical utilities.
. Jim introducing the physical plants industrial equipment in the basement, Gary having experienced boiler operation during his five-year tenure at the Kiowa school, but never acquainting such a presence as the two behemoth natural gas/ diesel backup Superior High Pressure Steam Boilers. Besides providing a heating exponent for the building, the boiler also provided steam used for autoclave sterilization and laboratory sterilized water. The basement complex also a station for the massive 100 ton Trane air conditioning compressor, its piping extending to the multiple bladed air circulating roof top condensers. Another introduction, this time to the impressive electric driven Ingersoll Rand vacuum pumps, providing suction capabilities for surgery and in-room patient care. Gary’s mechanical knowledge expanding as Jim explained the function of the various equipment, concluding with the pumps for the multifarious zoned hydronic fan coil units that provided climate control for 48 bed acute hospital and adjoining Clinic.
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. The prerequisite walk-thru interview coming to a conclusion, a learning experience, Gary having provided Jim with his logic based mechanical understanding of the plants integrated components, emphasizing, with Roy Steins additional in-depth tutelage, he was thoroughly comfortable addressing the operation and maintenance of the equipment. The interview concluding with Jim, but before leaving it was conveyed, his wasn’t the only applicant. Returning home, the inevitable waiting for the decision commenced, Gary earlier having informed school superintendent Glen Piper of his intended interview, and asking about the necessity of a two-week notice, not wanting to generate any difficulties. Glen’s reply was short and to the point, “don’t worry about it’. The hospital call finally arriving, requesting he meet with the H R person the following Monday at 9:00 a.m. for orientation and physical, his employment confirmed and a new direction on the road of like.
Inquisitive Quest 
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