William M. McCready

W. M. McCREADY, Superintendent of Operations, is known to everybody and generally called just "Bill." The most complete knowledge of the plant and its many operations known to any human being lies locked up under his thin blonde locks and behind those clear blue eyes. What he doesn't know about the works has yet to be found out.

Born at McCready's Gap, three miles up the river from the plant. He began with the company as a water boy when work was first started in 1894. It is said that not a brick was laid or a joint of pipe connected that he didn't see it and that no brick has ever been removed or pipe disconnected that he didn't know what became of it.

When the plant was put into operation "Bill" went to work first on the lime kilns, and then in the vat house, first on one job and then on another, vat man, mud stiller, still man, tower man and through the whole circle of "the wet side." When a vacancy occurred in the place of shift foreman, "Bill" got the job, then he became assistant superintendent of operations, and later superintendent. He knows the plant from the ground up as no other man ever did. He has worked at almost every job in it and is past master of them all.

Some of the biggest improvements in the works have resulted from Bill's suggestions and experiments. if you ask him about them he will say his men worked them out, but that is Bill's way -- to always give the other fellow credit.

An incident characteristic of his modesty occurred some months ago when after a moment's steady aim, from the side of the plant he killed a wood chuck coming down the hill across the river. Those who saw the shot marvelled at the feat and boasted of the distance between "Bill" and his mark. Some estimated it at five hundred feet, several placed it at four hundred and all agreed it was no less than three hundred. Finally they put it up to Bill and asked him how far it was. "Oh," he said casually, "about a hundred feet, I guess."

A natural mechanic, a close observer, always trying to learn, Bill is a true example of what ability backed by willingness can amount to. More bashful and modest than most girls we know, he doesn't talk -- he gets results. he knows his men, he likes them, and they like him. his long legs carry a competent man around. We wish there more Bill McCreadys in the world.

From The Alkalite.