Ray C. Mullin
A Geezer Icon in the Electrical Industry
A few weeks ago, I had a very enjoyable dinner with Mike Holt. He was in town and gave me a call. He’s quite a guy…a true educator! There was lots of talk about the good old days around the circuit. Mike asked me to tell him "Who am I?" That was an interesting question and I never thought about it before. I guess all of us play many roles in life. Here are mine.
I am a common kind of person. I was born in Wisconsin, the state where they have eleven months of winter and one month of "tough sledding." My folks were common folks and taught me a lot about the virtues that make a good person. I studied hard and was a member of the National Honor Society. I’m married to my incredible wife Helen, and I’m the father of four children, the grandfather of eight grandchildren, and great grandfather of two great grandchildren.
I served a full apprenticeship followed by a number of years working at the trade and was a member of the IBEW. I was hired full time by the State of Wisconsin to teach the electrical apprenticeship program and night classes for journeymen in various cities around the state. It didn't take long to learn that "things" are not the same in all communities relative to Code enforcement and how electrical installations are done.
Summers were spent attending summer school sessions at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, the University of Wisconsin, and the Colorado State University. After a lot of grunting and grueling studying, I received a Teaching Certificate from the State of Wisconsin.
I have always been active in industry organizations. I’m an Honorary Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Life Member of the National Fire Protection association (NFPA), a Senior Member Retired of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), and a past member of the Electronic Industry Association (EIA). I joined the IAEI in 1956 and I served on the NFPA Code-Making Panel 4. I also served on the Executive Board of the Western Section IAEI for 25 years and I was on the advisory committee of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) answering their members’ electrical related questions in their monthly publication.
Over all of those years, I tried to follow Thomas Edison’s phrase "There's a way to do it better - find it." Try writing a paragraph on how to tie shoe laces. Can you get the point across to the reader? If not, "There's a way to do it better - find it."
That phrase is quite appropriate when it comes to teaching, writing, illustrating, and so on. One of my mentors...one of the great educators in adult education used to say "If the student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught." He also was pretty abrupt during the interview process when he told me that if he hires me to teach the electrical adult education programs for the State of Wisconsin that "No matter how much you know about the electrical industry, the only part that is worth anything to the state is that part that you can teach someone else." That was a pretty profound statement.
Those words of wisdom carried over into my teaching, my writing of lesson material, examinations, and the writing of my textbooks: Electrical Wiring - Residential and Electrical Wiring - Commercial. I was also co-author of Electrical Wiring - Industrial, Smart House Wiring, Agricultural Wiring, Illustrated Electrical Calculations, and other technical publications.
It’s interesting how I got involved with Delmar Publishers. In December of 1959, I was teaching an evening class for journeymen and contractors in Central Wisconsin. That was the year the National Electrical Code changed their numbering system from four digits (i.e. Section 2594) to a three-digit numbering for articles plus section numbers (i.e. Article 250-94). The textbook we were using in the class was based upon the four-digit system. I contacted the publisher, and told them I was keeping track of the numbering changes needed in the text, and asked if they would they be interested. I received a fast YES response...and the rest is history.
My Electrical Wiring - Residential and Electrical Wiring - Commercial books have sold over 1.50 million copies. It makes me feel proud that there are so many individuals across the country and Canada (yes, there is a Canadian version) that have or are still earning a good living as a result of studying these texts and becoming skilled electricians.
I know that Mike Holt shares my feelings about helping others become an asset to society. His educational material and his excellent manner of presenting it is an attribute most individuals wish they had.
I contributed a lot of time and effort as Chairman of the Electrical Commission in Northbrook and did all I could possibly do to keep those amperes flowing in the right direction.
I spent 33 years with Bussmann in different positions: District Manager, Regional Manager, Regional Vice President, and Director of Technical Liaison. There were many great co-workers to help me grow in my knowledge of the electrical arena.
I am now retired, and I’m looking forward to slowing down and smelling the flowers.
It has been a wonderful journey down the path of life. I still go fishing in Canada every year with a few of the guys I used to work with at Bussmann. They are a terrific group that shared their knowledge with me.
Although I am retired and trying to slow my pace, it’s hard not to pick up the National Electrical Code often. I can't get it out of my system.
As I look back, I come to realize that what I am is the result of rubbing shoulders with many truly remarkable individuals. No one can do it alone!
I am turning over future editions of my textbooks to Phil Simmons. Like Mike Holt, Phil is one of the country’s top Code experts and educators. The train will stay on the track. Not a beat will be missed as Phil takes over.
I like to think that there are two kinds of people in the world. "There are people that put things on the table, and there are people that take things off the table." My goal in life has been to do the best I can to contribute...not take.
Have I kept busy over the years? You betcha!
Ah yes, "It's a Wonderful Life."
One final thought for everyone: "When you're through learning....you're through!"
Ray C.Mullin
