Almost everything in the design of control and protection devices had born B.O. Austin’s mark. Be it a voltage regulator, a power or control relay or the overall circuit design, his influence could be seen. B.O. was an innovator. He was always looking for a better way to do things.

”Jessee,” he said to me one day, “you’ve been working on some of the relays we need for the control circuit for this airplane. Now I want you to put all the pieces together to make a control panel. Here’s the schematic diagram we have worked up.”

”I recon I can do that. Do we have a charge number for the job?” said I. He gave me the shop order and I went to work.

I prepared the information needed for the job and sent it to the drafting department. Peck Killian was assigned as layout draftsman. Peck had made the drawings for several of my projects, and we had worked together without any problems. We consulted frequently on his progress and made whatever changes seemed desirable. We didn’t always talk about the job exclusively. One day he told me a story.

“One night after Gladys and I had gone to bed, she said she heard noises in the house. I listened, and thought that maybe I could scare a burglar away by saying, ‘Hand me the gun, Gladys!’ and she said, ‘Peck, you know we don’t have a gun,’ I don’t know what she heard, but it was no burglar; a good thing.”

Sometimes B.O. would look in on our progress and make a suggestion which we would discuss and decide what to do.

The job was nearly complete. I checked in with Peck to see if there was something he needed. He was busy erasing something from his layout.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“B.O. said that I should move these parts around like this,” Peck said, as he showed me what B.O. wanted.

“That’s a good idea,” I said, after looking over the ordered change. “I wonder why he didn’t say something to me about it. He assigned me the job, so why is he telling you to make changes? I don’t appreciate it much.”

“I don’t know,” said Peck.

“I guess he wants to take over the job. If you have any questions see B.O. Let me know when the drawings are done and I’ll sign ‘em off,” I said, irritated that he had not consulted me. I thought he may as well learn to trust my judgment.

Thereafter Peck did in fact have more questions which he directed to B.O. I busied myself with my other jobs until Peck’s work was done. I don’t know what conversations went on between Peck and B.O., but they finished the job without me.

I continued to work on my other jobs as well as new assignments B.O. gave me. He never mentioned my quitting the job he took over, nor did I. From time to time he made suggestions concerning my designs, but never again to people doing work on my projects without informing me. He took his training very well.

I knew we were on good terms when one day he and I and another guy were waiting for the elevator. It arrived and a well-assembled young woman got off. I took particular notice of her. Maybe I looked lustfully at her, I don’t know.  Anyhow, B.O. noticed.

“Jessee,” he said, “she would paralyze you!”

I had not the slightest doubt that he could be right.