Page 8 - HIWT Fall 2013 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

EXPERIENCE AND MEMORIES WALK OUT THE DOOR WITH

THE RETIREMENT OF ERNIE JONES

Long-time instructor Ernie Jones will take many years of
experience and a lot of memories with him as he retires from
Hobart Institute.

“The people I work with are most certainly the best and some
of the best welders in the country. But what makes them really
great is their attitude and their willingness to help everyone
they can,” said Ernie. “And certainly the students that really
stand out are those who put forth the extra effort to have
perfect attendance and did an outstanding job.”

“The school facilities certainly have changed,” Ernie
FRQWLQXHG ³7KHUH ZDV D WLPH ZKHQ ZH RQO\ XVHG ÀLS FKDUWV
in our lectures. Now we have excellent classrooms with very
good audio/video training materials. The environment for
the students is clean and nearly smoke-free with the exhaust
system that is in place. Their break room and restrooms are
very nice.”
As with any career, Hobart instructors see the up-side and
down-side of students.

“The good ones outweigh the problem ones,” Ernie believes.
“All or most of the students have cell phones now and those
sometimes present problems or distractions.”

And Ernie’s job has had a few challenges along the way.

“I had several classes where the students spoke very little
English,” explained Ernie. “Fellow instructors commented
that I spoke slower and louder with them!”

Field training is always interesting and each contract offers
unique challenges. Ernie has done his share of traveling
throughout the years.

“I have always found the people just great to work with.
Perhaps the most memorable were the two or three years in
the early 1990’s that I was in and out of Bayer Corporation in
New Martinsville, West Virginia,” said Ernie. “I think I knew
every maintenance person that worked there and I developed
some friendships that continue today.”

Ernie’s talent and his quiet and professional demeanor
contributed to him being a great teacher. He leaves behind a
great legacy as he has passed along his knowledge to some of
the younger instructors as well as to hundreds, if not thousands,
of students throughout his career. As he retires, Ernie hopes
to have more time for leisure activities and perhaps to pursue
contact with some of those friends of past years.

8