Pennsylvania Game News - March 2010 - 17

ing held in the spring of 2005. Prior to that training I asked Mario if he would approve of me working a day with, now retired, WCO Dave Myers at the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area, an area frequented by a great variety of waterfowl. I received approval from both WCOs and spent the day (like my dad did in the ’70s) patrolling the goose blinds with WCO Myers. Pymatuning had many memories for me as a youngster and as a hunter. I told Mario that when the district came open and if he wanted to transfer, I would go with him. Mario was awarded the district in September of 2005 when Dave retired, and before the end of that same month I had a new address. SGL 214 is probably my favorite Game Lands. I’ve logged many hours there doing law enforcement work and information and education programs. At that time, my occupation was as an independent contractor hauling film and prescription drugs to retail stores. I didn’t start my day until 10 a.m., which allowed me to spend a lot of mornings patrolling around the management area and the controlled goose blinds. The 27th Class of new WCOs was to begin in 2006 but, due to budget constraints, the class was postponed until 2007. Deputy Andrew Troutman, a longtime friend of mine, also applied for the class. The process for becoming a WCO began with an online test at the State Building in Pittsburgh. Both Andy and I tested on March 25. The next step was an oral interview in Harrisburg. Again, Andy and I tested on the same day, so we carpooled. Though we are both highly competitive, we always commented how great it would be to be classmates at Ross Leffler. Mario assured me that I’d make it, but the wait was unbearable. I wished I had his confidence. When we received notice that the class would be delayed, Andy and I decided to concentrate on our deputy work and enjoy the year. MARCH 2010 In late 2006 the background investigation packets arrived. Andy’s mail always ran a day or two ahead of mine, and the waiting caused me a lot of anxiety. After our background investigations, we received notice of a final interview. This time my interview was scheduled prior to Andy’s. When I entered the second-floor room at Harrisburg headquarters, my butterflies disappeared and I left feeling pretty good. Then it was back to waiting. On my way to work a few weeks later I received a phone call from Andy. He asked if I had heard from the PGC Executive Director. I told him I had not and asked why? Andy said he didn’t want to make me nervous but that he had received a call the night before, from Director Roe, congratulating him personally for making the 27th Class — pending the physical fitness and psychology exams. I told Andy that I hadn’t received a call, but that I hadn’t been home the night before. Then, as if on cue, my cell phone flashed an incoming call. On the other end was exactly the call I had been waiting for, and I even asked Director Roe to please tell me what I wanted to hear. I called Andy back immediately and I tried to kid around and say that my news wasn’t as good as his, but I couldn’t even complete the joke. Instead, I reminded him how great we thought it would be to be classmates and added, “Well, now we’ll know.” My eating habits aren’t exactly from the book of Jenny Craig. I like those things we shouldn’t eat, such as pies, cakes, donuts, hamburgers, steaks and chips. In less than four weeks, on a regimen of running and dieting, I took my frame from 185 pounds down to 168. As part of the regimen, Andy and I would meet at a local swimming pool to practice the swimming requirements, and the low impact exercise
Pennsylvania Game News - March 2010

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