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After 40 years, Land plans to just relax |
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Thursday, 02 July 2009 |
 By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Assistant Editor
In his resume, Steve Land describes his objective as “To obtain a position where I can use my skills, knowledge and dedication to help the organization I work for achieve their goals.”
Those who know him, or have had the privilege to work with him, agree that in his many years of service to the Nebraska Department of Roads he has done just that.
Steve has lived in Broken Bow since he was a toddler, moving here with his family at the tender age of four or five. After graduating from Broken Bow High School, he opted to check out life in the big city and moved to Omaha.
However, he says it didn’t take long to discover that way of life was not for him. He returned to his home town, and in March 1969, went to work for the Nebraska Department of Roads. He worked as a highway maintenance man through February 1970, when he was drafted into the United States Army.
In the Army, Steve served as a specialist 5 - 52 Julia MOS, operating heavy highway construction equipment. He returned in November 1971, and resumed his job with the NDOR.
He remained a highway maintenance man until October 1995, when he was promoted to highway construction tech. III. In that position Steve’s duties included serving as party chief on the survey crew and inspector on construction projects, as well as all other duties related to highway construction.
In October 1995, Steve was promoted to Highway Maintenance Superintendent. He served as supervisor to 19 employees at four maintenance shops in the county, covering 640 lane miles of Nebraska highway.
Steve says over the years the department has had to learn to get by with fewer hands, due mainly to budget cutbacks. However, the equipment is so much better than it used to be.
“We have equipment now that can do the job of two guys, and that helps,” Steve says.
He speaks highly of those he has worked with during his 40-year career with the NDOR.
“It’s been a good job, with lots of good people. It’s a good feeling to know we are doing something important to help people.”
After 40 years on the job, Steve says he just felt like it was time for a change. Right now he has no plans, other than enjoy himself.
“I like to fish, and I plan on doing a lot of that,” he laughs. “We have a place over at Burwell we spend a lot of weekends at; now I can spend a lot of week days there, too.”
He says he and his wife, Kay, plan to do some traveling later this summer, and he has a rather lengthy “honey do” list he will be working on.
“But mostly, I just plan on relaxing for awhile,” Steve says with a smile. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 July 2009 )
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