Congratulations to the class of 1974 on the 50th anniversary of your graduation from Ranken Technical College. It is our institutional tradition to honor our Golden Graduates – all those celebrating five decades, or more, as alumni – at our annual graduation event. In addition to our tribute at graduation, we also honor our Golden Graduates by collecting and posting their stories to honor their work and inspire prospective Ranken students. Below you can find pictures and personal stories from graduates of the class of 1974, serving as a tribute to their accomplishments. We also have the class composite picture (click here to view) so the class of 1974 can see themselves and their friends and recall their days as students. If you would like your story and picture added to this page, please email [email protected].
Darrel Cooper ’74 Diesel Maintenance Tech
Brighton, IL
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Retired from Fabick Cat; heavy equipment mechanic
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: As a field service technician, everyday was a different situation-new locations, new people, new problems to solve-never boring.
Favorite Ranken memory: Working on “Big Bertha” the locomotive with fellow classmates
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: I had two and both were great!
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: You have to love what you do no matter what others say “Every day is what you make of it”.
Terry Forst ’74 Truck and Heavy Equipment Repair
St. Louis, MO
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Mechanic/ Cummins
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Trouble shooting
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: Mr. Oeler
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Exter to learn
Gary Jones ’65 HVAC
St. Charles, MO
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Owner & Founder, Air Comfort in 1969
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Enjoying my customers
Favorite Ranken memory: Graduating
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: Mr. Lynch
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Have an open mind and enjoy your profession.
Gary Jones was a Navigational Flying Trainer in the Navy. When he got out of the Navy in the early 60’s AC was a new technology and all of the skills he learned in the Navy translated to working on AC. Gary decided to enroll in Ranken and five years after graduating started Air Comfort in 1969. Does anyone remember their advertising slogan? “Let Doc Jones comfort your bones.”
John Jordan ’62 Industrial Electricity and Electronics
Riverton, IL
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Retired
Favorite Ranken memory: Today (May 11, 2024) grandson, Hunter Riley graduates from the electrical department
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: Mr. Oliver Ruel
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Go, it’s a great education
Tom Jokerst ’69 Communication Electronics
Chesterfield, MO
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Was the 12th person hired to work at Charter Communications where he managed Engineering and technical operations. Retired from Broadbus as the Chief Technology Officer.
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: The combination of working with people and technology, innovating with technology to make it work, getting involved at the ground level of cable and broadband, fortunate to be in a position of entering industries in the early stages of development. Furthering the industries development throughout my career. My wife says, “Over analyzing everything.”
Favorite Ranken memory: When I was allocated my tools, which included a slide rule, and I had no idea what any of them were, their purpose or how to use them, the high quality and dedication of my instructors, and Graduation Day.
Favorite Ranken Instructor: John Underwood, Communication Electronics instructor who was retired military
Ray Madsen ’74 HVACR
Ballwin, MO
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Retired from Barnes Jewish Hospital
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Helping people taking care of patients and medical staff comfort and needs
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: Paul Mueller
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Study hard, be courteous and be patient
Kevin Smith ’73 Diesel Maintenance Technology
St Louis, MO
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Metro/Bi-State (41 years) Diesel mechanic
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Ranken trained me well for the challenge of solving mechanical bus problems
Favorite Ranken memory: working on “Big Bertha” the locomotive
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Study hard, be proud of the school as it will open doors for your career.
Philip Throm ’74 Carpentry & Building Construction
Collinsville, IL
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Owned & operated Throm Construction for 43 yrs
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Doing different jobs all the time and meeting new people
Favorite Ranken memory: Speech from Mr. Garret, Director of Discipline on the 2nd day at Ranken-told us we maintain 50% mortality “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: Mr. Wagner
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Attend and work hard at it
Chuck Watson ’74 Mechanical Drafting
Washington, MO
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Retired-Mechanical Engineer Manager/Machine & Design Engineer at Melton Machine & Control Co
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Being night watchman and submarine door buzzer/horn
Gary Wibbenmeyer ’74 HVAC
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Retired-Commercial kitchen equipment tech manager
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Assisted in the development of the first commercial automatic pizza sauce dispenser for Costco and Little Caesars
Favorite Ranken memory: I enjoyed learning via many night school courses: stationary engineering, instrumentation process control & welding
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: John Maminol
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Continue your education. Extrapolate. Understand that you will be surprised at where your career will take you.
Carl Woodcock ’74 Industrial Electricity and Electronics
Columbia, IL
What is your current/previous job/position/company: Worked at Krey Packing for 5 years, Leadman for 25 years at Continental Fabricators where worked for 41+ years
Favorite aspect(s) of your profession: Flexibility of job duties, my long term job was a lifetime of experience
Favorite Ranken memory: Class was a variety of students; one was from Kansas who bought Coors beer back from home and 3 farm boys had farm stories and hosted a class hayride
Favorite Ranken Faculty member: Mr. Horrell
What advice would you give a potential Ranken student: Enjoy work: school trains you but life is schooling forever.