Russell Johnston's Letter

I want to share a letter that was sent to me by one of the crew I worked with on the Stella & Powell project. It is a reflection of how I was viewed in the field by those I associated with.

Dear William,
Your card was a most welcome and extremely pleasant surprise. I'm sorry, but "not surprised", to hear how they, (Finley engineering Co.) treated you. With the exception of you and one or two of the C-Com fellas I met, that whole operation appeared to me to be a bunch of back-stabbing "chewbackers". I hope you have a grievance started in house and a lawyer harrassing them from outside. Carl & I got the axe as soon as we were done with Le-Ru. Johnnie said he just didn't have enough work to keep us on. I found out later that he called Carl back for a small job in Eureka Springs. I don't have Carl's address. I know where his house is in Seligman but I don't know the name of the street. As small as Seligman is, as long as Carl's been there, and the fact that his wife sat on the city council may mean you can reach him with General Delivery Seligman if the post office still does that.
As for me, I went back to work for the first boss I had in Rogers. He's a good boss. He's only paying me $8/hr. and he makes sure I realize I'm low man on the totem pole. It's a four man outfit and I ws his foreman when I quit him last time. But, I've worked for him for sixty days and he's given $450 and a 15-20lb. ham over and above my wages plus a couple of the customers have tipped me a total of $50, $30 of which came the first week I was back. So all things considered, I'm content with the way things have worked out for me.
I hope you get justice. They couldn't have asked for a more thorough or conscientious employee. I hate to think that they got rid of you for no more substantial reason than you didn't fit in their clique. How is your lady? I remember you telling of her health problems. I hope you have managed to find the healing needed. And I pray that you have had a happy holiday season. You know, Christmas and New Years . It sounded weird when I wrote "happy holiday season", at least weird coming from me, kind of 5th Avenue, or something.
I had a kind of strange season. Johnnie laid me off around Halloween, Mary and I had a big old fight (verbal, not physical) and I moved out. I moved in with one of the guys at work only to have a lady friend of his move in with her three children. So I was kind of "Uncle Russell" to 7 year old girl who was pretty sure there wasn't any Santa Claus, but not so sure that she would stake Christmas on it. She made Christmas special.
Then, I visited Mary on Christmas day, found out she was behind on everything with every service except gas & electric- including water shut off. So I moved back in on the rent a room by the week plan and got the city to turn her water back on. So between work and home, it's been a strange period between Halloween and New Years. It did afford me the opportunity to meet new friends. I spent every holiday - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas- with people I didn't even know on Labor Day. Odd isn't it?
Well, I'm about talked out. So, I guess I'll say bye for now. I hope there is something you can do about Finley's. I fear in this current political climate; in fact the political climate for the majority of the last 20 years, an employee is no more than chattel. Still, there is a limit to what they can get away with. I hope otherwise life is being kind to you and yours. Thank you for a beautiful Christmas card. I'll call you when I get the phone turned back on.
In friendship
Russ

I value Russell's friendship as he is not only a very hard worker but his letter demonstrates a learned mind. He writes well and with good spelling. I value his views and who he is as a person. The letter is important for me in that it is the views of another person that was associated with my work and his observation of the situation is quite accurate and complimentary on my behalf. It is a testimony in the form of a personal letter that shows the BRUTALITY on Finley's part toward me when I was "innocent of any wrongdoing". It reflects the abuse of power with no regard for the damage the use of that power causes to anothers life. After 23 plus years (the best working years of my life), I was let go because of no more reason than "I didn't fit quite so well back in the ITD department." That act by these individuals should be punishable by law. Randall Kim Little terminated my employment and when I demanded to know upon what grounds he was doing this, I got this reply------"Ah, we don't have to tell you, we don't have to discuss it with you, we don't have to have a reason." Lonnie Joe McFadden chose to support Kim in this poorly thought out act that clearly shows what and who they are as people. Sad that they are so shallow and unfit for their positions.