A Four-Decade Labor of Love

From building missile pads and soccer fields in Germany to digging water and sewer lines for Twin Cities neighborhoods, John Mathies loved every day of his 40-plus-year career operating heavy equipment.

“I can count on one hand the number of times I called out sick,” he says. “I typically got to the jobsite 45 minutes early, prepped my equipment, and was warmed up for the work day.”

Like most young Minnesotans, Mathies stared working heavy equipment on his father’s dairy farm in St. Joseph. Back then, his wages were room and board.

With experience as an operator, he joined the military in the early 1960’s, applied for an assignment to run heavy equipment and got it. After serving three years, Mathies moved to the Twin Cities, where he says “the real money was.”

“I joined the Operating Engineers Local 49 October 1968,” Mathis recalls proudly. “I was on a backhoe in Roseville my first day reconstructing water and sewer lines.”

Over the years, Mathies worked for C. W. Houle, Nova Frost Inc., and Minnkota Power. While his career hadn’t put him on any of the Twin Cities’ high profile projects, like the Metrodome or downtown sky scrapers, his operating skills had helped bring the water, power and other vital utility lines to many of our homes.

“I was always proud to be an operator,” he says. “I’m a little guy, who always wound up on the biggest equipment. It was great when people would go by, look at what we were doing and say, ‘Wow!’”

In fact, he recalls other tradesmen on jobsites always wanting to get behind the gears of heavy equipment so they cold play in the sand box. While a fun job, Mathis notes his duties were serious work.

“One of the reasons I never called in sick is because I knew the job and where things were underground. I didn’t want someone unfamiliar on my rig to hit something and get hurt,” he says.

Recently, the 49ers honored Mathies with one of the union’s top honors, a 40-year-service pin. Joining the union was one of the smartest career moves this operator made.

“I tell guys stick with it. It’s worth it.”

That advice paid off for Mathis on several occasions. About 12 years ago, he underwent double bypass surgery. His union health insurance coverage was great. Now retired, he still contributes a dollar-a-day in dues.