Today we had Bud Davis, Grant and Marilyn Newell and George Bennett for lunch and a couple of hours of telling some Orrie stories and looking at a table full of photos that are on our dining room table. It was a special time to get them together because they don't see each other much and they haven't seen George for several years because he suffers greatly from heart issues. Your Dad was a very important part of their young lives and their friendship was never lost. Of course, we had some fun memories but the new one was when Grant (Buck) and your Dad trapped a skunk and then, decided to skin it!! This is one I have not heard. Buck said school was the next day and he did everything he could to scrub off the stench but it remained. He doesn't remember how your Dad made out but sure the problem remained for some days. Buck even put it hands inside the smoke house but only ended up with smoky orange, stinky hands! George graduated a year ahead of your Dad. . He was orphaned when he was about four at the time and lived in foster homes. One ended up being up the road from us so he was on the school bus we rode and, in a small school, you know everyone no matter. George took care of a big bully that was always picking on your Dad in his young years and today heard of another one that he helped. George was always built like he was born with steroids in his system. Buck said he ran a 10.2 sec mile when in high school. Buck was roofing with your Dad when your mom and her friend walked by below and your Dad said, "I'm going to marry that girl!" How about that? Then, later your dad and mom introduced Buck to her friend, which was Marilyn. And, as they say, the rest is history!! It was a wonderful get-together with Orrie's (and our) friends. Bonnie & Stan _____________________________________________________________ My first experience -Barbeque Sauce (5/15/85) I have known Orrie as a friend and colleague for over 25 years but my first experience meeting him was one to remember. Our company was looking for a National Expert in trickling filters and after contacting many people for recommendations, Orrie's name kept coming up so we decided to fly to Salt Lake City to meet him or the first time. He met us at the airport and took us to a local barbeque spot so we could eat and get to know each other. Prior to our dinner, we all had numerous drinks to the point that Orrie was laughing continually and slurring his words. When the barbeque arrived, Orrie was wiping his face with what he thought was his napkin...only it was his tie. He was so far gone, he didn't even notice and we started wondering whether he was an expert or a lush. The next day after everyone was sober, he took us to his home in Salt Lake where we met Bert, his wife. We went to his adjacent office and he started translating journals in German relating to trickling filters and nitrification and we realized we found our expert. We had dinner that night at his home after he raved all day about the Trout he caught at his place in Wyoming. While he served us trout and we were choking on all the bones, he made himself a steak and ate that instead. Doug Uhren, PE _____________________________________________________________ Design on a Napkin (1990) As any of you that knew Orrie technically can understand, he could delve into design issues so deeply that you would have to "hold on" just to try and keep up. On one such occasion, he, Dr. Dave Stensel, and I were having dinner and discussing options for a prison WWTP in Ohio. During dinner, Orrie designed the entire WWTP including solids processes on several napkins. He would remember formuli out of thin air, back check himself and correct the results. We used those napkins for our design basis on the improvements. Of course, the design worked. I will miss those interesting discussions. For some reason, Orrie took a great liking to me and gave me many of his design books, patent research, and published papers on nitrification/denitrification processes. Doug Uhren, PE _____________________________________________________________ Orrie loved hot cajun food (1992) During one of his trips to Columbus, Cheryl & I had him over to the house and sampling home made wine and discovered that he had a great love for Cajun food. The next day we found an authentic Cajun restaurant and wanted to treat Orrie to a nice dinner. It was a hole in the wall and we could buy beer and bring it in to drink with dinner. It felt like we were in New Orleans with the cook screaming at the waitresses in a heavy creole accent. You could order the food in different heat ranges from 1 - 10. Cheryl & I ordered 4 and 5. Orrie ordered 10. During dinner, Orrie was sweating profusely and it was dripping down his nose. He was saying how delightful the food tasted but he couldn't feel his lips. He was so excited that we found the restaurant that he paid for our dinner and looked forward to coming back to Columbus just to eat there. The next time he came back to Columbus, we tried to go to the restaurant after it had moved to a larger space. It was closed and when we looked inside the windows, all the tables had plates with partially eaten food on them. We later found out that the 2 brothers that owned the restaurant had an argument and then a fist fight during dinner and closed the restaurant on the spot. If only we had been there an hour earlier, we could have had some special entertainment. Doug Uhren, PE _____________________________________________________________ Fall 2007 I met Orrie as an expert for a client on a wastewater plant dispute. It became clear very quickly to him and me that he was going to have to explain even the basics to me, often multiple times! He handled it with patience and good humor. He was instrumental in achieving a resolution of the result. I am saddened by his passing- his family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care. Mike Lord _____________________________________________________________